No. In order to reduce handling of physical materials and given the nature of concert planning in 2021 we are not producing a printed brochure this year. All concert information will be available on this website.

We love seeing young people at our performances, and we have a range of concerts designed to be a perfect introduction to the world of classical music. From workshops for toddlers to interactive performances that delve into the world of classical music and the instruments within the orchestra, there is something for children of every age. Learn more about these performances.

Most of our evening and matinee performances are generally not suitable for very young children or infants, but please feel free to call our box office for guidance. All audience members, regardless of their age, are required to hold a valid ticket, including a baby on your lap.

The MSO currently has 80 permanent musicians (plus 8 vacancies to be filled). Many other musicians join us on a regular and casual basis, depending on the repertoire being performed. Every work requires different orchestral forces, which affects the number of players and the types of instruments on stage. Some Mahler symphonies, for instance, require more than 100 musicians, whereas some pieces by Bach or Mozart require as few as eight or ten players.

On stage, our musicians will practice social distancing, with a maximum number of musicians determined by venue and government regulations. In line with this on-stage capacity, our Artistic Planning team have devised programs to be performed by appropriately-sized ensembles for each venue.

Season 2021 celebrates local homegrown talent, and throughout the season we are excited to welcome a number of interstate and international artists to our stage. By performing with the MSO in 2021, visiting artists have agreed to follow the relevant guidelines in relation to quarantine upon arrival and departure.

All MSO venues have seating arrangements for patrons with wheelchairs. Please let us know your requirements when booking tickets to ensure your seats are in the appropriate area. When you arrive at the venue, please see staff for assistance. For any information regarding accessibility, please call the MSO Box Office on (03) 9929 9600 or email boxoffice@mso.com.au.

Yes – these are available for use in every seat at Hamer Hall, and are free of charge. Connection can be achieved with standard headphones or with your hearing aid via a neck loop. Please see the front of house staff at Hamer Hall to arrange for use of listening devices. A driver’s license will be required when borrowing.

We publish a concert program for most performances with information about the artists and works being performed.

To reduce handling of physical collateral, programs will be digital whenever possible and available on our website prior to each performance.

In 2021, some concerts will be shorter and without an interval to allow for audience comfort. In order to perform to as many music lovers as possible, often the MSO will perform two different programs under the same conductor, with a 90 minute break inbetween.

To attend both programs, you will need to purchase an individual ticket to each event, or include both concerts in a Create Your Own Series subscription. We cannot guarantee that the same seat will be available for each program.

The length of each work in the concert is stated in the program. Please see the individual concert pages on this website for more details about concert length.

Once a performance commences, the venue doors will be closed and latecomers will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance, which in some cases may not be until interval. This is in consideration of our artists and audience members. Venue ushers will assist you to locate your seat. A viewing room is available to latecomers at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Simply wear what makes you feel happy and comfortable. Contrary to what many people think, formal attire is not required at MSO performances. As a general rule, many attendees wear smart casual or business attire. For our galas, the audience generally dresses up a little more, but tuxedos or gowns are not required.

Many concert-goers only applaud at the end of a complete work, even if the piece has several movements. This means that there may be moments of silence between movements when the music has stopped, but no one applauds. The concert program will list how many movements a work has, and its length.

You can also wait for the rest of the audience to clap before you applaud. When in doubt, just follow the lead of those around you!

A concert hall is acoustically designed to project even the smallest of sounds. This is perfect for listening to classical music, but other noises can also be heard by the entire audience, so be mindful of this when attending a performance and please make sure that you switch electronic devices to silent. Please also consider your fellow audience members by ensuring the screen on your device is dimmed, as the light emanating from the screen can be distracting.

We understand some noises are unavoidable. Bring lozenges along if you feel like you may need to cough during a performance, and try to unwrap them prior to the performance. You can bury a cough or sneeze in a loud section of music, using your elbow or a handkerchief to muffle the sound.