Even when the music might be familiar, there’s something always fresh about Musica Viva Australia’s (MVA) programmatic hallmarks: an international luminary in a new Australian collaboration, a twist on a work well-loved, or premieres and debuts abound.

“We want to give people something that’s really joyous and diverse across the year, and I hope that’s what we’ve done,” says Katherine Kemp, Director of Concerts & Communities. “Paul [Kildea, Artistic Director] always wants to give great variety, and he particularly tries to make these connections between Aussies and international artists, so there’s this wonderful cross-fertilisation.”

Allan Clayton and Kate Golla, A Winter’s Journey, Musica Viva Australia, 2022. Photo © Bradbury Photography

CEO Anne Frankenberg concurs.

“That’s exactly what I was going to say! That’s one of the things that characterises Paul’s aesthetic – the best here, the best internationally, and finding those magic connections that can just make sparks fly.”

MVA’s 2026 opener is in that vein, feeling more like a second glance at something new than a repeat. Announced by co-producer...