The oldest professional orchestra in Australia with the longest continuous history, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will next year celebrate its 120th anniversary. Its founder and first conductor, Alberto Zelman was, rather surprisingly, Australian-born. He continued in the role until his death in 1927. In 1922 he was the first Australian to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony.

The current and fifteenth Chief Conductor is Sir Andrew Davis, appointed in 2013, he recently accepted an extension to 2019. The MSO thus has secured distinguished, consistent, top level leadership. Long associated with the BBC Proms, he was also music director of Glyndebourne until 2000 when he was appointed to the Chicago Lyric Opera. A champion of Berlioz and contemporary music, he is keen to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary next year with the MSO. One Shakespeare-themed program he will be conducting in June will feature the Romeo and Juliet suite by Berlioz and Shakespeare’s Kings, a commission from Australian composer James Ledger. Crowning that program will be the majestic Brahms Violin Concerto, in which the soloist will be Vadim Gluzman. Appearing regularly with the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia, London, and Munich orchestras, he has recently given acclaimed performances with the Berlin Philharmonic and Cleveland orchestras. Happy 120th birthday to the MSO.