MEDIA RELEASE: Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Welcomes Back Li-Wei Qin in Musette – A Cello Celebration

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MEDIA RELEASE

MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2025

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Welcomes Back Li-Wei Qin in Musette – A Cello Celebration

World-renowned cellist returns with Haydn's exuberant Concerto, Elena Kats-Chernin's Bach reimagining, and Boccherini's dramatic "Devil's House"

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra presents Musette, a concert that places the cello front and centre, featuring the return of internationally acclaimed cellist Li-Wei Qin. Performing on Thursday 21 August at 7:30pm and Sunday 24 August at 2:30pm at Melbourne Recital Centre, the Chinese-Australian virtuoso, praised by The New York Times for his "meltingly beautiful tone, flawlessly centered intonation and an ironclad technique," brings his commanding artistry to a program celebrating the cello's extraordinary versatility across three centuries of repertoire.

"I’m absolutely delighted that we’ll once again be sharing the stage with Li-Wei. His masterful artistry and dazzling virtuosity bring an irresistible spark to every performance. This concert is a true celebration of the cello, featuring timeless works by Haydn and Boccherini that showcase how the instrument’s elegance and expressive power has been sustained through the centuries. I’m also excited to introduce our audiences to some lesser-known treasures — Elena Kats-Chernin’s vibrant reimagining of Anna Magdalena’s Notebook and Françaix’s witty and charming Variations de Concert. These hidden gems add a delightful twist to a program that is all about the beauty and brilliance of the cello." – Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Artistic Director Sophie Rowell

"Chamber music hits the sweet spot of really combining what an orchestra plays with a chamber space. Ultimately, being a smaller ensemble, we use our ears more! We aren't entirely relying on a conductor; we have to be much more sensitive. It's one of the most exciting and exuberant cello pieces out there – it's a real, super virtuoso work, both for the orchestra and myself." – Li-Wei Qin

Program Highlights

Elena Kats-Chernin's From Anna Magdalena's Notebook opens the evening, written especially for MCO Artistic Director Sophie Rowell. The work reworks familiar themes from Anna Magdalena Bach's notebook – she was the copyist of her husband's Cello Suites, making this the perfect company for Li-Wei's artistry.

Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major serves as the program's centrepiece – a work Li-Wei himself suggested. "It's one of the most exciting and exuberant cello pieces out there!" he shares. "It's a real, super virtuoso work – both for the orchestra and myself." The manuscript was only discovered in the 1960s, yet it has become one of the most beloved works in the cello repertoire. Li-Wei first learned this piece at age 13, creating a deeply personal connection.

Jean Françaix's Variations de concert provides a "fabulous French bonbon full of elegance and wit," while Boccherini's dramatic Symphony No. 4 in D minor, "La Casa del Diavolo" (The Devil's House) concludes the program. Written by a fellow cellist-composer, this flamboyant work demonstrates Boccherini's intimate understanding of the instrument's capabilities.

Li-Wei, who has appeared twice as soloist at the BBC Proms and collaborated with orchestras including the London Symphony, China Philharmonic, and all leading Australian symphony orchestras, particularly values the musical intimacy of chamber orchestras and the heightened level of musical communication they require.


Ticketing and Venue Information

Performance Dates: Thursday 21 August 2025, 7:30pm & Sunday 24 August 2025, 2:30pm
Venue: Melbourne Recital Centre
Booking: mco.org.au/whats-on/musette/
Ticket Availability: Single tickets on sale now

About Melbourne Chamber Orchestra

Founded in 1997, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra is Victoria's preeminent professional chamber orchestra, dedicated to presenting exceptional musical experiences that connect audiences with both masterworks and bold new creations. Under Artistic Director Sophie Rowell, MCO delivers more than 60–70 performances each season, each of uncompromising artistic quality, finesse and passion.

The MCO's mainstage season is presented at Melbourne Recital Centre and broadcast on ABC Classic and 3MBS FM. The ensemble also hosts A Feast of Music, an annual spring chamber music festival in Daylesford, as well as a range of chamber programs that tour extensively across Victoria and beyond. MCO also delivers a wide range of education concerts, bringing the joy of chamber music to schools and communities throughout the state.

mco.org.au

Access media kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SW1K58ovdGrL-m-hreiFk9hudjBheNoF?usp=sharing

Photo credit: Hans Goh (Li-Wei Qin) 

Media tickets available for both performances on request, with or without review intentions.

Media Contact: Samuel Cairnduff
RESONATE Communications
samuel.j.cairnduff@gmail.com | 0401 396 755

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