Sidney Myer Free Concerts Debut For Oleg Caetani

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Oleg Caetani makes his
Sidney Myer Free Concerts debut as part of the Orchestra's Centenary year celebrations.

"I am delighted to join with the people of Melbourne in celebrating our Orchestra's Centenary in the first
concerts we perform in 2007, following our highly successfully European tour" said Maestro Caetani.

A highlight of Melbourne's summer festivities, these annual Sidney Myer Free Concerts are presented by the
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in association with the University of Melbourne. Each year approximately
40,000 people flock to four concerts in the Bowl to experience magnificent music and talented Australian and
international artists under the stars.

The 2007 Bowl season opens with an exhilarating all-Russian program. Rimsky-Korsakov's The Golden Cockerel:

Suite is a kaleidoscopically colourful orchestral souvenir of his last opera. Renowned Australian pianist,
Caroline Almonte features as soloist performing Rachmaninov's First Piano Concerto. The concert concludes
with the delightfully tuneful Symphony No. 1 by Vasily Kalinnikov, in its first Melbourne performance.
Following the success of Otello - Opera in Concert 2005, Maestro Caetani is thrilled to present an all-Verdi
program featuring talented young Australian singers and the Melbourne Chorale in the second Sidney Myer
Free Concert. Two of the four soloists, soprano Emily Burke and bass David Parkin were, respectively, finalist
in and winner of Operatunity Oz. They join two other hugely talented singers: Renae Martin, now making
important appearances in the UK, and magnificent young South Australian baritone David Thelander.

Leader of the new Australian String Quartet, violinist Sophie Rowell will perform Mendelssohn's Violin
Concerto in our third Bowl concert. During our 2006 MSO Gala fundraiser, Kilikanoon's Managing Director,
Nathan Waks bid for a unique opportunity to conduct the MSO. Our 'Maestro of the Moment' Kilikanoon's
winemaker, Kevin Mitchell will receive a private conducting lesson and a rehearsal with the MSO. He will
conduct the overture to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro prior to the start of the third Sidney Myer Free concert.

To close our 2007 Sidney Myer Free Concerts enjoy highly-acclaimed Australian pianist Ian Munro
performing Chopin's Variations on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano". This final concert also features
Rachmaninov's impassioned Symphony No. 2 fresh from the MSO's performance of this work with Maestro
Caetani on the Orchestra's 2007 European tour.

As part of the celebration of Australian music created during the MSO's lifetime, the Orchestra will perform
works by Arthur Benjamin and Percy Grainger in these Sidney Myer Free Concerts. 2007 is also the 125th
anniversary of Percy Grainger's birth.

So pack a picnic, bring your friends and family and we'll see you at the Bowl for beautiful music under the
stars - with fireworks after each concert to wish the Orchestra "Happy birthday".

By www.mso.com.au