The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2018 season, with world-renowned Australian Heldentenor Stuart Skelton making a return after last year’s Das Lied von der Erde and Anne-Sophie Mutter making her Melbourne debut among the many highlights.

“One of the tasks I relish most as MSO’s Chief Conductor is planning a season in which all guest artists are matched with repertoire for which they have a special affinity,” said MSO Chief Sir Andrew Davis. “Our opening gala includes two internationally renowned stars: Nelson Freire, who will perform Beethoven’s majestic Emperor Piano Concerto, and Stuart Skelton will join us to sing music by Wagner and Verdi. Stuart returns the following week to perform Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, and later in the year we perform Berlioz’s beautiful, touching L’Enfance du Christ with a cast of great international stars. It’s quite possibly our most exciting season yet.”

^{Australian Heldentenor Stuart Skelton. Photo © Sim Canetty-Clarke}

Following the gala, Sir Andrew will be hitting the ground running with two hard-hitting programmes in March. Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, in which Skelton will...