The Perth autumn is settling in with some fabulously wet, cold days this past week. Perth’s cultural life is starting to gear up accordingly. There is nothing like braving a stormy night to get to a snug theatre and muse on life’s purpose. And May is promising some high quality gigs that will be well-worth the effort.

On Monday 2nd May Stephen Hough’s national Musica Viva tour arrives in Perth. Hough will be playing piano works by Liszt, Franck, Schubert plus his own Piano Sonata. I’m interested in how this program explores Hough’s catholic faith and charts a musical progression from dark to light.
On the 5th Katie Noonan and the Brodsky Quartet are in town. I remember vividly every Katie Noonan concert I’ve been to because she’s always so intelligent and artistic: her band George, with WASO, then venturing into jazz. Now she’s taking on the string quartet genre and I expect this to be really interesting too.
The Australian Chamber Orchestra are taking on the giants on May 11th performing Bach’s The Art of Fugue (famously used in An Equal Music) and Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue. This is going to be a powerful concert.
The WA Symphony Orchestra will be performing classics by Haydn and Mozart on May 6th, directed by concertmaster Laurence Jackson. The popular (and almost sold-out) Cushion Concerts for kids are on from 4th-7th and the orchestra will be in the pit for WA Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast from 13th-28th.
On 21st May the University of Western Australia Orchestra will perform works by Alan Lourens (Euphonium Concerto) and James Ledger (Two Memorials – a world premiere) in celebration of the composers’ 50th birthdays. A world premiere by Holdsworth is also on the program.

Lastly St George’s Cathedral will be showcasing singing superstars Sara Macliver and Fiona Campbell in their Divas Delight program on the 27th. The concert will be recorded by ABC Classic FM and I’ve just noticed the Post restaurant next door at ComoThe Treasury offers pre-theatre meals. Perfect!

That’s all for this month, unless you can think of something I’ve missed?
So be brave, get to a concert and take care of your soul this autumn.