A terrible thought occurred to this bedraggled concert-goer as he proceeded down into the bowels of Hamer Hall on Thursday evening to see Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s concert Debussy’s Nocturnes, subtitled Darkness and Light. Television weather people had been warning all day about downpours throughout Melbourne and about rising river levels and floods throughout Victoria. And here we were, descending ever further into the depths, with the thought: isn’t Hamer Hall below the level of the Yarra River?

Thankfully, Hamer Hall and the MSO survived the prospect of disaster, but there were many empty seats in the auditorium. Those of us who braved the dire warnings of a deluge were spared to savour a delectable program of mostly French music: Ravel, Debussy, Takemitsu and the world premiere of a new harp concerto by an Australian composer. Delectable on paper, at least. The reality was something less in delivery.

Debussy’s Nocturnes, Darkness and Light, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, 2022. Photo © Laura Manariti

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