After a hugely successful inaugural festival in March 2023, renowned pianist Coady Green presents the 2024 fortyfivedownstairs Chamber Music Festival. With a typically diverse, colourful, and unique group of concerts, this festival features numerous world and Australian premieres. Some regular sell-out shows are returning – One Piano Eight Hands, Lyric Opera presents Australia Art Song, Divisi Chamber Singers, and internationally acclaimed pianist Michael Leslie. All are bound to sell out as they did last year.

The festival also welcomes renowned Australian actors Helen Morse and Paul English back to the fortyfivedownstairs theatre, with Helen narrating a special sneak preview of Linda Kouvaras’ new work based on Gwen Harwood’s poetry, and Paul English reciting the rarely-heard Strauss adaptation of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s epic poem Enoch Arden.

And we welcome some of Melbourne and Australia’s most celebrated musicians: Antoinette Halloran, Justin Kenealy, Brent Miller, Laila Engle, Campbell Banks, Louise Devenish, Judith Dodsworth, Karen van Spall, Tiriki Onus, Merlyn Quaife, Andrea Katz, Christina Wilson, Tristan Lee, Gintaute Gataveckaite, Georgina Lewis, Michael Petruccelli, James Rushford, and more. There are concerts for everyone in this kaleidoscopic festival.

Click on the links below for more information.

Tuesday 12 March 7:30pm, OPENING NIGHT: Duo Eclettico presents Parade: works for saxophone, piano, and percussion, with special guests Brent Miller (percussion) and Helen Morse (narrator)

Wednesday 13 March, 7:30pm: INLAND Presents James Rushford: A Pattern Appears More Like a Very Long Rope

Thursday 14 March, 7:30pm: The WIlin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development Presents Leading Voices

Friday 15 March, 7:30pm: pianist Coady Green and actor Paul English present Richard Strauss’ Enoch Arden Opus 38 for piano and narrator

Saturday 16 March, ALL DAY: The Fermentary Presents Wild Drinks, Beautiful Broomsticks

Sunday 17 March, 2pm: Songmakers Australia presents A Crown of Dreams: Berg and Wagner

Tuesday 19 March, 7:30pm: Judith Dodsworth and Kevin March present The Unknown Swimmer, with guests Laila Engle (flute), Campbell Banks (cello), Louise Devenish (percussion)

Wednesday March 20, 7:30pm: Lyric Opera presents Australian Art Song

Thursday March 21, 7:30pm: The Institute for Enquiring Minds Presents Michael Leslie: Beethoven Diabelli Variations and Sonata Opus 110

Friday March 22, 7:30: pianists Coady Green, Georgina Lewis, Tristan Lee, and Gintaute Gataveckaite present One Piano Eight Hands

Saturday March 23, 7:30pm: Soprano Antoinette Halloran and pianist Coady Green present She, Who Should Have Been a Queen

Sunday March 24, 2pm: Tenor Michael Petruccelli presents Tosti and Rubinstein

Sunday March 24, 5pm: Divisi Chamber Singers