Great Talks with Graham Abbott: David Greco & Erin Helyard

Melbourne Recital Centre Podcasts

Now in its 10th season, Melbourne Recital Centre’s Great Performers series presents great artists giving extraordinary performances of compelling classical, bold and cutting-edge repertoire in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. This year, the Centre has partnered with renowned presenter/producer and conductor Graham Abbott to create the Great Talks podcast – an audio companion to each concert in the 2021 Great Performers series. Part pre-concert talk, part deep-dive into the music, artists and program curated for each concert, these podcasts are designed enhance the concert experience for music-lovers for all ages and levels of music knowledge. In their upcoming concert on Wednesday 7 July, classical luminaries David Greco and Erin Helyard perform their ARIA-nominated interpretation of Die schöne Müllerin (The Maid of the Mill). In Die schöne Müllerin, we meet a young man with thoughts of love. Just one glimpse of the miller’s daughter at the window and he’s smitten, but in vain, for she loves another. The song cycle is loved for its breathtaking complexity, intense originality and the rich melodies that carved Schubert’s reputation as a genius of the lieder genre. Greco and Helyard’s Müllerin brings fresh insight into Schubert’s masterpiece while retaining the beauty that has made it so iconic. More about Graham Abbott: Graham Abbott has been Conductor-in-Residence at the Elder Conservatorium of Music Adelaide, Musical Director of Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus, Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Musical Director of Melbourne Chorale, and Guest Chorus Master for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He is a frequent guest conductor with the major Australian orchestras and opera companies, leading choral societies and numerous new and early music ensembles. Graham is also a respected speaker and broadcaster and was producer and presenter of the highly successful Keys To Music series on ABC Classic FM from 2003 – 2017. In 2021 Graham will return to the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the Oriana Choir and conduct The Barber of Seville for State Opera South Australia. Graham will also lead tours for Hayllar Music Tours, including to the Bendigo Chamber Music and Adelaide Festivals, and host performances at the Four Winds Easter Festival, Bermagui.