Melbourne Events Listings

2012 FORMULA 1(TM) Australian Grand Prix

The 2012 Formula 1(tm) Australian Grand Prix is the country's premier sporting event and offers an action-packed extravaganza of on-track and off-track activities for people of all ages to enjoy. Besides a stellar line-up of elite motor racing, a host of other offerings will keep you entertained throughout the day. Set in the stunning surrounds of picturesque Albert Park and offering striking views of Melbourne's skyline, the 2012 Formula 1(tm) Australian Grand Prix will be a feast for the senses. If you've never witnessed the sensation of a Formula 1(tm) car racing before your very eyes at speeds of more than 300 km/h, make 2012 the year to do it. Formula 1(tm) racing is synonymous with glamour, sophistication, cutting-edge technology and meticulous teamwork, all combining to present the perfect day out for you and your friends. And don't forget that the Grand Prix is so much more than the world's fastest cars. An array of first-class support categories and a feast of off-track entertainment come together to give you a day you'll never forget.

2012 Melbourne Fringe Festival

The much-loved Melbourne Fringe Festival is an annual showcase of the breadth and depth of talent emerging from Victoria's diverse and complex independent arts scene. Kicking off on September 19 and running through to October 7, the 2012 Melbourne Fringe Festival will showcase 324 bold new shows covering every conceivable art forms, from circus to cabaret, dance to design. For 19 days, the cream of Melbourne's independent arts scene will bring you something new, something different and everything inspiring.

2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships

Melbourne's Hisense Arena will host the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships from Wednesday 4 April to Sunday 8 April, 2012. The UCI Track Cycling World Championships stands at the pinnacle of world track cycling and will attract up to 350 of the world's best cyclists from 40 countries. The 2012 Championships is the final qualifying event in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games ensuring all fans will witness the best track cycling on offer as cyclists vy for an Olympic berth and a prestigious rainbow jersey. Having hosted the 2004 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the 2008-10 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics Series as well as the recent 2010 UCI Road World Championships, Melbourne knows how to stage a truly magnificent cycling event and these championships will be no different. So, experience the thrills, spills and pure adrenaline pumping action of the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Tickets On Sale in October Tickets will go on sale in the following prioritised order: Cycling Australia Members* Monday, 17 October midday - Tuesday 18 October 2011 midday Cycling Family** Wednesday, 19 October 2011 9am - 5pm General Public Thursday, 20 October 2011 from 9am * Current Registered Financial Members of Cycling Australia ** Persons registered as Cycling Family Members - registration is free via the website There are a range of different ticket options available to suit all. For more information visit the website.

A Chorus Line

A Chorus Line is the winner of 9 Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. An all-new Australian production of one of the most successful American Broadway musicals of all time, A Chorus Line is coming to Melbourne Direct from Broadway and a U.S Tour, this new Australian production is directed and re-staged by Baayork Lee, one of the original cast members and inspirations from the Tony Award® winning 1975 production. The producers are thrilled to announce the cast for this spectacular show will include Josh Horner (Billy Elliot on Broadway, Tivoli, Dirty Dancing, Dancing With the Stars) who will play formidable Broadway director, Zach. Starring as Cassie is Australian star of the West End, Anita Louise Combe who made her first professional appearance on stage as Sillabub in the Australian Premiere Production of Cats followed by Cosette in Les Miserables. A Chorus Line tells the tale of 17 dancers desperately auditioning for eight stage roles in a musical. In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of practice, every minute of every day of their lives. This is the chance to dance. Their personal human stories are told through captivating song, riveting drama and stunning choreography. A Chorus Line is a timeless Broadway masterpiece for a new generation that speaks to everyone who's ever had a dream and put everything on the line. 'There's nothing better! The show thrills from the opening number to the glittering finale' - Now York Daily News. 'The chance to see Michael Bennett's masterpiece again, or for the first time shouldn't be missed' - The New York Observer.

A Dinner to Die For

Not molecular gastronomy, but a wickedly funny Melbourne based Musical, Murder Mystery Show and Dinner. Set in 1928, Lord Daventry hosts his party bash. Rumour in social circles is that he will announce his engagement to Miss Fanny. Agatha Christie in spirit - all cut glass accents, pearls, flapper dresses and monocles - with lashings of sexual innuendo and double entendres. Party guests are allocated a role for the night and encouraged (but not required) to indulge their inner artiste by dressing and behaving in character. They play the game as detective for the night whilst mingling over dinner. Subplots emerge and the evening begins to gather pace and spices up into a hilarious romp peppered with music, murder, mysteries, disembodied limbs and suitably hysterical screams. As shows go this is interactive entertainment at its best!

A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John - international superstar of studio, stage and screen and one of our most beloved Pop icons, returns to Melbourne for A Summer Night with Olivia Newton-John and the Melbourne Pops Orchestra, at the Regent Theatre on Monday 27 February. Olivia's illustrious four decade career has brought significant accolades including four Grammys, an Emmy, American Music, People's Choice, Country Music and Lifetime Achievement Awards, an induction into the Australian Music Hall of Fame and inclusion in VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll.

ACO – Beethoven 9, Ode to Joy

The ACO's internationally-acclaimed Beethoven symphony series reaches its climax with Symphony No.9, Ode to Joy, featuring one of the finest British choirs and an exceptional line-up of soloists. Critics called the ACO's recent Beethoven concert in London "the finest concert of the summer" and spoke of "thrilling playing", "vibrant drive" and "total involvement", concluding, "this compact chamber orchestra matches anything Europe can offer in energy, precision and interpretative rigour." Building to the symphony, a trio of serene yet intense works, swelling to Beethoven's depiction of a sea voyage. MESSIAEN - Prayer of Christ ascending towards his Father, from L'Ascension BRAHMS - Geistliches Lied BEETHOVEN - Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage BEETHOVEN - Symphony No.9 Richard Tognetti Artistic - Director and Lead Violin Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (Graham Ross Director) Lucy Crowe - Soprano Fiona Campbell - Mezzo Soprano Allan Clayton - Tenor Matthew Brook - Bass

ACO – Chopin & Mendelssohn’s Octet

Combining sparkling virtuosity with tender lyricism, Chopin's First Piano Concerto is an ideal vehicle for the unique talents of Polina Leschenko. Although Górecki is best known for his haunting and heartfelt Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, his Piano Concerto bristles with driving rhythms and energy. Mendelssohn's Octet is a staple of the ACO's repertoire, its carefree exuberance belying its fiendish technical intricacies. "The enthusiasm and tightness of the ACO was nowhere better shown than in the Mendelssohn with its joyful, sweeping opening movement, quicksilver scherzo and romping closing figure." Cumberland Newspapers. "Eight players from the orchestra revelled in the musical high jinks of Mendelssohn's Octet." Adelaide Advertiser The ACO's three legendary violins - Stradivari, Guarneri and Guadagnini - are revealed in Richard Tognetti's specially created arrangement of Paganini's dazzling Caprices. PAGANINI (arr. Tognetti) - Caprice on Caprices MORRICONE - Exercises I: Adagio CHOPIN (arr. Tognetti) - Piano Concerto No.1 GÓRECKI - Piano Concerto MENDELSSOHN - Octet Richard Tognetti - Artistic Director and Lead Violin Polina Leschenko - Piano

ACO – Danielle de Niese

Danielle de Niese was born in Melbourne and won Young Talent Time aged 9, then moved to Los Angeles, won an Emmy and made her debut with the LA Opera aged 15. She has blossomed into one of the hottest properties in opera, enrapturing audiences in roles like Cleopatra, Euridice and Susanna at Glyndebourne, the Metropolitan Opera and on screen. To celebrate her professional debut in her home country, De Niese sings a specially commissioned Australian work, which also marks the centenary of Australia's Nobel laureate Patrick White. She also shines in Mozart's joyous Exsultate jubilate, matched with a flourish by a symphony from one of Mozart's early operas. Schubert's haunting song, Death and the Maiden, is at the heart of Schubert's famous and dramatic quartet. MOZART - Symphony K196/121, "La finta giardiniera" VINE - New work (text by Patrick White) MEALE - Cantilena Pacifica MOZART - Exsultate jubilate SCHUBERT - (arr. Tognetti) Death and the Maiden SCHUBERT - (arr. Tognetti) String Quartet No.14, "Death and the Maiden" Richard Tognetti - Artistic Director and Lead Violin Danielle de Niese - Soprano

ACO – Mozart, Handel & Vivaldi Concertos

One of the world's finest keyboard players, respected conductor and historian, and director of the Academy of Ancient Music, musical firebrand Richard Egarr directs this concert of rousing Baroque music from the harpsichord and performs Mozart's delightful Piano Concerto No.12 on the fortepiano. Egarr's program displays all the invention and innovation that abounded through the 17th and 18th centuries, calling on virtuosic techniques that still excite the ear. Egarr introduces the music in talks one hour before each concert. Satu Vänskä is soloist in a dashing Vivaldi concerto on the ACO's Stradivarius violin. CORELLI - Concerto Grosso, Op.6 No.1 CASTELLO - Two Sonatas, "per stromenti d'arco" BIBER - Battalia VIVALDI - Violin Concerto, RV190 MOZART - Piano Concerto No.12 HANDEL Concerto Grosso, Op.6 No.1 Richard Egarr - Guest Director, Harpsichord, Fortepiano Satu Vänskä - Lead Violin

ACO – Russian Visions

As soon as he played with the ACO, Steven Osborne wanted to return with Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No.1, for it requires an immensely virtuosic string orchestra, flexibility and humour veering on craziness. The time has now come with this all-Russian concert. Brimming with carefree energy, Tchaikovsky's Souvenir is an exuberant postcard from an Italian summer holiday. "The ACO...set the audience in a spin with its heady version of Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. Richard Tognetti was intent on making the most of the Russian nostalgia, romancing his violins, sending the audience into a clapping frenzy." Herald Sun PROKOFIEV (arr. Barshai/Tognetti) - Visions fugitives SHOSTAKOVICH - Piano Concerto No.1 SHOSTAKOVICH - Octet TCHAIKOVSKY - Souvenir de Florence Richard Tognetti - Artistic Director and Lead Violin Steven Osborne - Piano David Elton - Trumpet

ACO – The Hilliard Ensemble

The Hilliard Ensemble is famous for mesmerising performances and chart-topping recordings of early and contemporary vocal music. Gregorian chant and French medieval hymn hypnotically intertwine with Edwards' orchestral setting of Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit). A cappella prayers from 15th century England and Arvo Pärt join Raskatov's Russian Orthodox chant setting, written for The Hilliard Ensemble and string orchestra. This concert also celebrates the luscious ACO string sound with two opulent works by Elgar and Arensky after Tchaikovsky. ELGAR - Serenade for strings SHERYNGHAM - Ah, gentle Jesu RASKATOV - Obikhod (Australian Premiere) PÄRT - Most Holy Mother of God GREGORIAN CHANT - Veni Creator Spiritus ANON. (FRENCH MEDIEVAL) - Veni Creator Spiritus EDWARDS - Veni Creator Spiritus ARENSKY - Variations on a theme by Tchaikovsky Helena Rathbone - Lead Violin

Annie

The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including It's the Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, N.Y.C. and the ever-optimistic Tomorrow, Annie is one of the most awarded and loved musicals of all time. Reprising one of his all-time favourite roles as the charismatic and sophisticated New York 'zillionaire' Daddy Warbucks, is Anthony Warlow. He will be joined by the ever-popular Nancye Hayes playing everyone's favourite villain, Miss Hannigan. Todd McKenney, Chloë Dallimore and Julie Goodwin also bring their talents to this delightful musical.

ANZAC Day at the Shrine

ANZAC Day, one of the most celebrated days in history commemorates and remembers those who fought for us in the Great War. Each year there is a dawn service and a march to honour those men and women. The Dawn Service commences on the Shrine Forecourt at 6am. The ANZAC Day March along St Kilda Road starts at approximately 9am and concludes at the Shrine by 1pm for the Commemorative Service.

Australasian Quilt Convention & Expo

AQC is Australia's largest event dedicated specifically to quilting. It's held annually in Melbourne and is open to delegates attending for the duration of the four-day program as well as day visitors. It includes a trader's market (Expo), a Quilt Show, seminars and workshops. Several hundred hand-picked quilts will be on show representing the 'cream of the crop' in quilting. There are hands-on classes and activities throughout the Expo as well as educational seminars daily held by experts from around Australia and overseas. It's not just an event - it's an experience!

Australia-China Business Week 2012

No one would doubt Australia's future is in China, but the reverse, it seems, is also true: China's future is in Australia. China's rapidly growing consumer markets create enormous opportunities for Australia's small and medium sized businesses. China is now Australia's largest merchandise trading partner, our third largest services export market, our largest source of overseas students and our fifth largest tourism market. Australia-China BusinessWeek (ACBW) 2012 is a central point for sourcing information and advice, and the opportunities to review the latest business trends, Investment, Consumer Goods, Education, Immigration, technology, Manufacturing, Mining, Transport, Health and business opportunities with China.

Australian Football League Finals Series

Don't miss the spectacular crescendo of 23 weeks of fantastic competition in the 2012 AFL Finals Series. From March to September Australian Rules Football (AFL) teams fight it out to make the top eight and qualify for the final series. This titanic contest is between two teams with one emerging as the premier side for the year. Close to 95,000 fans pack the stands of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the grand final while millions watch it worldwide on cable, satellite and free to air television. The final series offers sheer atmosphere and excitement and is a truly unique Australian experience.

Best of British Returns!

2012 Magical Musical Mornings, Summer Series, with Jonathon Welch AM. Rule Britannia, marmalade and jam! Get out your flags and polish your tiaras as they return to the magnificent Melbourne Town Hall for a celebration of the Best of British music with the magnificent 150 voices of THECHO!R, award winning Footscray-Yarraville City Band and the stunning Town Hall Organ.

British Watercolours 1760–1900: The Age of Splendour

British Watercolours 1760-1900: The Age of is an outstanding exhibition showcasing works by Britain's most celebrated eighteenth century artists including J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin and William Blake. The NGV is also delighted to announce that on display for the first time is the most recent acquisition to the Prints & Drawings Collection, The Stepping Stones on the Wharfe, above Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire (1801) by celebrated artist, Thomas Girtin. A masterpiece of the artist's late Romantic style this work is an acquisition highlight of the NGV's 150th anniversary year. Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV said: "The NGV boasts one of the greatest collections of British watercolours from this period in the world. This exquisite collection is bursting with NGV hidden treasures. "Only one artist pivotal to the development of the watercolour medium, Thomas Girtin, remained inadequately represented in this collection and we are delighted to unveil this major work in British Watercolours 1760-1900," said Dr Vaughan. From the late eighteenth century, watercolour became pivotal to the changing approaches to the depiction of landscape and evolved from the topographical draughtsman's precise recording of the observed world to the expression of the artist's personal response to nature. This shift in emphasis transformed the medium into a powerful and expressive art form used by some of the Romantic and Victorian era's greatest artists. British Watercolours 1760-1900: The Age of Splendour is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Rd until 19 February 2012.

Burt Bacharach's Farewell to Symphonies Tour

Legendary composer Burt Bacharach returns to Melbourne with his sublime band and singers, in concert with Orchestra Victoria at the Regent Theatre on Thursday 19 April 2012, as part of his national Farewell to Symphonies Tour. During his last Australian visit, the ultra cool, cult hero was honoured with his eighth Grammy and proclaimed The Greatest Living Composer (2008 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award) at the 50th Grammy Awards. He is also a recipient of three Academy Awards. Burt continues to set industry records and creative standards. He broke new ground with his Grammy awarded 2005 album, At This Time, taking on social and political issues in his first-ever lyrical collaborations. Burt has written over 500 compositions and produced a phenomenal catalogue with more than seventy timeless hits. In 2007, Burt was so inspired by his Sydney Opera House debut with Sydney Symphony, that he specifically composed an eleven and a half minute orchestral piece, For The Children, which had its Australian premiere on his second sold-out tour six months later. Anyone Who Had A Heart will be entranced with every sophisticated, magic moment that is Burt Bacharach in concert, with his magnificent band, singers and Orchestra Victoria, in his final Melbourne performance at the Regent Theatre on Thursday 19 April. Don't Walk On By and miss out on the elegance, the melodies, the bliss! Tickets are on sale from Monday 12 September through Ticketmaster. For more information, bio and images, please contact: Bluehawk Presents publicist Sue Camilleri on 08 89 412 512 or 0408 412 512.

Cancer Council Walk to Work Day

Individuals and organisations are encouraged to build regular walking into their daily routine by registering for this year's Cancer Council Walk to Work Day: Friday, September 28. Registration is free and for the first time organisations and individuals also have the opportunity to raise much-needed funds for the Cancer Council. View the website for more information.

Checkpoint Charlie Comedy

Checkpoint is the city's premier above ground underground comedy room. For just $5 come fill yourself with $6 drinks and put your continence to the ultimate test against the country's best comedians as they spit funnies into the business end of a loud stick. Checkpoint Charlie Comedy at Eurotrash has already featured some of the country's finest comedians including Jeff Green (UK), Greg Fleet, Lawrence Mooney, Dave Thornton, Felicity Ward, Asher Treleaven, Adam Rozenbachs, Josh Earl and many more. Running each Wednesday, CCC warms you up in their unique casual bar set-up with some of Melbourne's most exciting new up-and-comers before the country's best established comedians take the stage. So get down this Wednesday, have a laugh and a few cheap drinks at Checkpoint Charlie Comedy. Doors open at 7.30pm. See you there comrades!

Circus Oz Classes

Summer has sprung at Circus Oz! With the recent warm days, do you have that feeling that it's time to spring into action? There is no better way to shake off the winter blues than with a class at Circus Oz! Circus Oz is going aerial this spring, with two weeks of classes in flying trapeze (for all levels of ability), aerial ring and for the first time Tissu for Beginners all for adults. Kids and teens don't need to miss out on the action either with Come n' Try classes during the school holidays. If you want a fun way to stay active for the rest of the year then you can also now enrol for term 1 classes. Circus Oz has classes that range from beginner to advanced so it doesn't matter if you're experienced or just starting out. Adult classes include Flying Trapeze, Aerial, Flexibility and Contortion and Chinese Pole. Kids and teens classes are also held every Saturday. Book your place now!

Click Go the Great Aussie Classics!

2012 Magical Musical Mornings, Summer Series, with Jonathon Welch AM Music for the People presents the 2012 Magical Musical Mornings summer series, which begins with a celebration of Australia's greatest singers, songwriters and songs from Peter Dawson to Peter Allen, June Bronhill and the legendary Seekers, you'll be waltzing your Matilda right up Collins Street. Concerts are 75 minutes in duration, followed by a free morning tea.

Comedy@Spleen

Every Monday, Comedy@Spleen is the city's free weekly comedy hotspot, with a packed room every week. With drop-in guests like Jimeoin, Adam Hills, Wil Anderson, Josh Thomas, Charlie Pickering, Claire Hooper, Lehmo, Tom Gleeson, Lawrence Mooney, Glenn Robbins, Fiona O'Loughlin and Dave Callan, you will never know which special guest you are going to get. They also feature all the hottest young acts in Melbourne that will be household names tomorrow Come down to the hottest comedy room in town.

Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow 2012

Coonawarra, "Australia's greatest wine region," James Halliday, is set to paint the country red with the 2012 Annual Coonawarra Roadshow. During the month of August, more than 100 wines will be showcased from Coonawarra Wineries throughout Australia. The Coonawarra Roadshow will be at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday August 18th between 5.00pm and 8.00pm. Be sure not to miss meeting and speaking with many of Coonawarra's winemakers and owners when they pour their impressive range of wines in Melbourne.

Design:Made:Trade

Design:Made:Trade is the one and only design fair of its kind in Australia. The design fair, now in its fifth year, is part of Australia's largest celebration of design. Design:Made:Trade will again take place at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, and will be accompanied by design-related workshops, talks, exhibitions and displays. A two day trade fair, two day public consumer fair - Design:Made:Trade presents the very best of Australian design covering furniture, fashion, industrial design brands and much more. A stepping stone for emerging designers, Design:Made:Trade is a curated show which presents a unique platform to create networks. Balancing a consumer market atmosphere with trade opportunity, Design:Made:Trade acts as a podium to help build business partnerships and gives designers the chance for profile elevation. Celebrating a diverse range of design, this year's exhibitors cover an array of disciplines such as graphics, interiors, industrial, software, fashion, and visual arts. From conceptual works by designer such as Rowena Martinich, to finished and realised product from DesignByThem, Tide Design and Ink & Spindle - a spectrum of designers blur creative boundaries, offering boundless inspiration.

Earth’s Shadow

Jean Lyon's new oil on canvas works juxtapose disparate objects representing the elements of earth, fire, water, air and space to create dreamlike scenes. In this monochromatic series, the grey wash background, reminiscent of Zen Buddhist brush and ink landscapes, provides an amorphous ground that triggers ideas for the painted imagery. Figurative elements such as trees, rock formations, birds and people inspired by close observation of found materials and the artist's archive of personal photographs, newspapers and magazines evoke a sense of nostalgia. In these low key compositions, constructed via Golden Mean theory and Fibonacci number sequences, thin washes of black and white oil paint are used to paint the contrasting detailed objects.

Electrolux Cooking School at Queen Victoria Market

Celebrate the beautiful, fresh, seasonal produce of Queen Victoria Market. At the Electrolux Cooking School, chefs, cookery authors and culinary professionals from Victoria and interstate conduct cooking classes in a range of cuisines, styles and techniques. The seasonal program includes demonstrations of seafood, cakes, desserts, and special occasion cooking. Italian, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Spanish, and Moroccan are just some of the cuisines featured in each program. The perfect gift idea for any avid foodie! The children's cooking classes and school holiday classes are firm favourites. Classes last approximately two and a half hours and take on a demonstration format. The maximum class size is 16 persons, which provides for intimate interaction with the presenting chef. Class prices include: generous food samples as the chef cooks, a recipe kit, complimentary glass of wine and hints on where to locate particular ingredients at Queen Victoria Market.

Fed Square Book Market

Love books? Join Melbourne's bibliophiles at the city's largest weekly book market in The Atrium at Fed Square. Held each Saturday from 11am to 5pm the market continues Melbourne's fine literary tradition, featuring books from a variety of leading new and second hand booksellers covering a diverse range of genres.

Fed Square Car Club Showcase

See your favourite cars up close and meet the proud owners at the Fed Square Car Club Showcase. On the last Sunday of every month car aficionados transform the Flinders St frontage of Federation Square into the most glamorous car park in town. Classic cars one month, vintage the next and modern sports cars another. All lovingly restored and cared for. 2012 Program: January: Jaguar Car Club Victoria February: Sixties American Muscle Car Club March: Confederation of Australian Motorsport April: Monaro Club of Victoria May: TYP 901 Register Inc June: BMW Car of Victoria July: Fiat Car Club of Victoria August: Classic Car Club September: Cortina Mark 1 Owners Club October: Porsche November: Jensen Car Club Australia

Fed Square Laughter Club

Join in a 30-minute laughter session at Federation Square at 11:00am on the 1st Sunday of each month. Laughter Clubs come together for a session and people laugh for no reason without having to resort to jokes or humour. The sessions last about half an hour and are mostly held outdoors. They are run along the lines established by Dr Madan Kataria, who founded the global laughter movement 14 years ago with one club, and there are now over 5,000 clubs worldwide. Everyone is welcome to experience first-hand the fun of a laughter session, and gain the benefits of laughter, which improves the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health of individuals, workplaces, and society.

Fed Square Microbreweries Showcase

Meet the brewers. Enjoy their beer. The idea is simple but there's nothing 'simple' about the boutique beers featured in the Fed Square Microbreweries Showcase. Learn more about the brewing process and enjoy up to 20 samples from Victoria's finest microbreweries. Don't miss the next Microbreweries Showcase at Federation Square in March.

Fed Square Wine Showcase

Whether you are a wine buff or enjoy discovering new wines you can taste some of Victoria's finest drops at Federation Square. Every month the Wine Showcase features a different Victorian wine region. Rub shoulders with the winemakers, enjoy the latest offerings from their cellar door and help judge the People's Choice Award for the best wines. Where: The Atrium, Federation Square When: bi-monthly on the first Wednesday and Thursday of the month, 4.30pm - 8.30pm 2011/2012 Program: - December 2011: New Release wines from across Victoria - February 2012: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland - April 2012: Upper Goulburn, Strathbogie, King Valley, Alpine Valley, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Glenrowan - June 2012: Sunbury, Macedon Ranges, Bendigo, Heathcote, Goulburn Valley (including Nagambie Lakes), Swan Hill and Murray Darling - August 2012: Fed Square Wine Awards

Giant Theremin

Get down to the Giant Theremin, a super-sized instrument controlled by movement! The Theremin's distinctive warble is accompanied by an array of distinctive sounds which make it impossible to resist running, dancing, jumping and forming unusual shapes in the activation zone to create a symphony of movement. The Giant Theremin is a City of Melbourne initiative supported by the VicHealth MOTION program. MOTION seeks to increase understanding of how being active in the arts contributes to a physically, mentally and socially healthy lifestyle. Visit the Vic Health website for more information.

Give My Regards to Broadway

2012 Magical Musical Mornings, Summer Series, with Jonathon Welch AM. St Michaels will be filled with the sounds of beautiful music from the great Broadway hits from Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, Oliver,Oklahoma, South Pacific, Sound of Music and more! Concerts are 75 minutes followed by a free morning tea.

HIA BuildGreen Expo

Victorian householders and businesses are set to be offered the keys to creating a new era of sustainability. With over 100 exhibitors and growing daily, showcasing products and services which save water, save energy, reduce waste, increase recycling or provide cleaner energy for use in the home or business. Visitors will be able to save money by comparing and buying hundreds of amazing products to cut water, energy and bills. The best eco technologies on the market will be demonstrated and experts available to answer questions. Practical free seminars on how to positively impact the planet will also run continuously over the three days. Many households and businesses, want to make changes, but are not sure what steps they can take to contribute. The BuildGreen Expo will provide the forum for visitors to gather information from the experts and make informed decisions on how they can make an impact on their own environments.

How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular

Flying, fire-breathing dragons will come to life in this epic arena adventure from Global Creatures (the creators of Walking With Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular) and Dreamworks, inspired by the 2010 Academy Award-nominated animated film How To Train Your Dragon. This one-of-a-kind live theatrical event rolls action, adventure and laughter into a captivating story set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons. How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular will feature unrivalled production values, massive wall-to-floor projections, flying, stunts and pyrotechnics. The astonishing cast of characters features 24 dragons (including all the favourites from the film - the Nadder, Gronckle, Night Fury and Red Death) and 23 world class circus and acrobatic performers. The cast of performers will be assisted by an international technical team whose members have created many of the world's most memorable spectacles at events like the Beijing Olympics and Vancouver Winter Games, and an Australian team (including director Nigel Jamieson) who first worked together on the Sydney Olympic Games. Global Creatures CEO, Carmen Pavlovic said "We are excited to expand the boundaries of public expectation by creating a show that combines dynamic creatures, world class performers and incredible staging to not only thrill and intrigue, but to engage audiences on an emotional level as well. How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular will have its World Premiere in Melbourne at Hisense Arena in March 2012, before embarking on a world-wide tour.

Introduction to Acting for ages 9 to 13

Imagination is the only pre-requisite for this year-long course of fun-packed drama classes for young people aged 9 to 13! In a small class of only 16 you'll discover the essentials of movement and voice plus key skills for creating colourful, believable characters. Active two hour sessions during term will have you confidently on your feet exploring drama games and skills sessions in improvisation, commedia dell'arte, singing, dance, storytelling and text work. They say if you can perform Shakespeare, you can perform anything... but they'll engage with an impressive line-up of other playwrights too. The best part is it's not all just practice! Working together as an ensemble you'll strut your stuff in each end of each term showcase... and work towards acting in a full length production at the end of the year for family and friends! No previous drama class or Shakespeare experience is needed, just enthusiasm, confidence in public speaking and being comfortable working in small groups. Course tutors are professional actors and directors from the Australian Shakespeare Company ensemble with backgrounds in teaching. Term 1: 8 February - 28 March 2012 (8 sessions) Term 2: 18 April - 27 June 2012 (11 sessions) Term 3: 18 July - 19 September 2012 (10 sessions) Term 4: 10 October - 19 December 2012 (11 sessions)

Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA)

Prepare to hold on tight as the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) graces Melbourne for the first time ever this September! In what will be four days of drama, comedy, action and more, KOFFIA will take Victorians on an intense ride of Korean cinema! Taking place at ACMI Cinemas, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, KOFFIA will be more than just a film festival, featuring industry forums, musical performances and cultural acts. Presenting a showcase of the latest hits direct from the land of morning calm, as well as a few classics, the Korean Film Festival offers a direct chance for people to satisfy their hunger for drama. Don't miss it! The Korean Film Festival in Australia is organised by the Korean Cultural Office Australia. For details about KOFFIA including session times and how to buy tickets, visit the website.

La Mirada Film Festival 2012

Co-programmed by Pedro Almodovar, guest curators Ang Lee, Antonio Banderas, Ken Loach and Guillermo Del Toro The fabulous La Mirada film festival returns to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in April 2011, presenting the best and most exciting new Spanish and Latin American films, plus a breathtaking selection of Spanish film classics selected by some of the world's finest filmmakers. With legendary Spanish cinema auteur Pedro Almodovar as its patron, La Mirada is unlike any other film festival, with the'Almodovar Presents' a classics section curated by Almodovar himself.

Law Week

Law Week - coordinated by Victoria Law Foundation - aims to promote access to and understanding of the law and justice system. Law Week involves over 100 organisations, who work with the Foundation to present seminars, exhibitions, lectures, Q&A sessions, and court tours, and many other public events and displays designed to provide legal information at little or no cost. The week long program includes more than 150 law-based events in Melbourne and across regional Victoria. Law Week's major highlight is Courts Open Day, a chance to explore the rich heritage of the courts. Tours, mock trials, sentencing exercises and meet-the-Judge sessions give visitors an insight into court operations and personalities.

Little Big Shots

Get square eyes with films for kids, about kids, and some even by kids, to amaze and delight kids. Kids of all ages flock to Melbourne's International Kids Film Festival, Little Big Shots, to laugh, whoop, think and create. Little Big Shots showcases the best in filmmaking for children and by children from Melbourne, Australia and around the world. Held over two school days and the Queen's Birthday long weekend, it is perfect for kids aged 2 to 15. Little Big Shots is an inspiring, meaningful and fun-filled festival of the best in Australian and international children's shorts, animations, documentaries and, amazingly, child-produced films. Little Big Shots features a schools program (Tuesday-Friday) and long weekend screenings. By offering six days of films by and about people whose creativity they would not normally be exposed to, the festival inspires discussion of world cultures, different languages, cultural diversity, emotional intelligence and human values.

Looking at Looking: The Photographic Gaze

Looking at Looking: The Photographic Gaze, is a unique exhibition exploring how photography can construct particular ways of looking. Drawn entirely from the NGV Collection, this exhibition brings together a fascinating selection of photographs inviting the viewer to consider the diverse nature of the photographic gaze and explore the complex relationships between the subject, the photographer and the audience. Looking at Looking features works by 10 Australian and international photographers including 20 photographs from Bill Henson's Untitled 1980-82 series. Maggie Finch, Assistant Curator, Photography, NGV said: "The act of photographing people involves a process of observation and scrutiny. At times, photographers remain detached and anonymous while at other times they are complicit, directing their subjects and encouraging specific actions." Looking at Looking: The Photographic Gaze is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road until 4 March 2012.

Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond

Don't miss this landmark exhibition of rare 13th - to 18th century Persian, Mughal Indian and Ottoman Turkish illustrated manuscripts. From one of the richest periods in the history of the book, more than 60 works from the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford join items from the State Library of Victoria in an exhibition of the largest and most important collection of Persian manuscripts ever seen in Australia. The profound beauty and universal stories contained within these captivating manuscripts will transport viewers to distant lands and other times. Love and Devotion will also showcase the many representations of human and divine love within the great narratives of Persian literature and poetry. Contemplate classic love stories by writers such as Nizami and Jami; works from the great Sufi poets Rumi and Hafiz; the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and 1001 Nights; as well as Firdausi's Shahnama (Book of Kings) - Persia's great literary epic. Love and Devotion reveals a range of striking parallels between Persian and western literature. Early European manuscripts from the Bodleian Libraries will also be on display, including a Roman de la rose and works by Chaucer and Dante. The exhibition will show rare editions of European literature, travel books and maps from the collections of the State Library of Victoria. A rich program of events and activities supports Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond, including a Persian cultural day, musical performances and a conference. A lavishly illustrated book will also be available.

Magical Movie Classics

2012 Magical Musical Mornings, Summer Series, with Jonathon Welch AM. Some of the best loved sings ever written were penned for the Silver Screen. Enjoy a trip down memory lane as Jonathon and his special guests revisit Breakfast at Tiffany's, Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Dr Zhivago and more. Concerts go for 75 minutes and are followed by a free morning tea.

Makeovers Manicures & Martinis

Elegant, relaxing and fun, the Makeovers Manicures & Martinis sessions, held every Saturday, are perfect for a hens night, birthday, corporate function or a catch up with the girls. As you sip on a cocktail, the fully qualified staff will pamper you and your friends using beautiful products that are free of toxic nasties and vegan certified. Indulge in pampering which involves a selection of treatments including: A 'hit the town' makeover, 'express' manicure, 'tension buster' massage and hair styling. Qualified staff are used and it all happens in the heart of the city in the stunning surrounds of the Long Room.

MARKit@Fed Square

MARKit@Fed Square is a unique Melbourne shopping experience. For one day, the light-filled Atrium and BMW Edge Theatre will be home to 100 of Australia's most coveted independent artists and designers. Fill your Christmas Stockings with unique and beautiful gifts. To buy or simply to admire, this is an event not to be missed. Visit the website for a full list of designers.

Melbourne Cabaret Festival

The festival will feature the best of home grown talent and a selection of acts from interstate and overseas across seven venues. Over 100 performers in 36 cabaret shows from comedy cabaret, musical theatre stars, New York styled acts, vaudeville, 'dark and edgy' cabaret and queer shows. Aside from the shows, be prepared to be spoilt with the full hospitality offerings, including seven bars, light meals and snacks or the option of an elegant dinner with show, or explore all that South Melbourne's pub and restaurant culture has to offer. Whether it's a meal, a drink, a meeting place or a late supper, they present it all for you.

Melbourne Festival

Melbourne Festival is one of the world's leading arts festivals and Australia's premier celebration of art and culture from around the world. Each Festival brings an unparalleled feast of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film and outdoor events to Melbourne each October. Melbourne Festival exclusively premieres the finest local, national and international events, ensuring that Melbourne is the only place in Australia that many of them are seen. Through excellence, diversity and accessibility, the festival presents the best possible experience to as many people as possible by proudly offering a wide variety of ticket prices and venues, plus many free programs.

Melbourne Festival of Choirs 2012

Dr Jonathon Welch AM (best known as the Founding Director of the ARIA, Helpmann and Logie winning Choir of Hard Knocks, ABC TV's Jail Birds and Channel 7's Battle of the Choirs) is inviting you to participate in the National Melbourne Festival of Choirs to be held over the Easter weekend of April 6 - 9, 2012. Following the stunning success of the second National Melbourne Festival of Choirs in 2011, with over 400 participants, here is your opportunity to collaborate with some of Australia's best music directors and sing in an amazing selection of Melbourne's spectacular venues, including the magnificent new Melbourne Recital Centre, National Gallery of Victoria, BMW Edge Theatre and Federation Square. Over the festival weekend, you will enjoy workshops, forums, master classes and participating in the Massed Festival Choirs working with some of Australia's finest choral conductors, arrangers and vocal practitioners. All genres of choirs are welcome to participate in the festival (gospel, contemporary, a cappella, classical, youth, world music and barbershop). If your choir is not participating or you are currently not singing with a choir, you are invited to register as an individual participant and join in this wonderful weekend of singing and fun.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

This coming Autumn looks totally foolish with the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival rolling around again throughout March and April - the greatest comedy caper in the Southern Hemisphere. The Comedy Festival doesn't come cheap on talent, but the tickets are. There's even an extensive free program to suit the most fiscally challenged of punters. Great value laughs are dished out by the most popular of local comics and some very special international guests - from stand-up to theatre, music, film and even visual art. There's something to satisfy the tastes of everyone - even the stoniest faced naysayers - incorporating the likes of little tykes over the school holidays right through to the midnight schmoozers who can't get enough of a good thing.

Melbourne International Film Festival

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event with a devoted audience. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for some 17 days each winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that envelop the CBD. In addition to screening the very best in world cinema, MIFF is Australia's largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent. MIFF has a rich history, celebrating 61 years in 2012 which makes it one of the oldest film festival's in the world (one year younger than Cannes!). From its earliest days, MIFF has provided audiences with a unique window on the world and has acted as the leading intellectual and artistic catalyst in Australia's screen cultural landscape. The Festival enjoys annual admissions of 185,000, making it one of Melbourne's significant public events.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival

The playful curiosity ever-present in jazz and improvisation - the joy of discovery - is what this year's Melbourne International Jazz Festival is all about. Taking place from June 1 to 10, the Festival now includes the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend, allowing more time to enjoy the wonders of jazz in its many forms. In their fourth year, the artistic team of Artistic Director Michael Tortoni and Program Director Sophia Brous have created a program that brings leading international jazz luminaries to Australia for Festival exclusive and Australian debut performances. Stay tuned for more information.

Melbourne Microbats

This year Melbourne Microbats research teams will be treated to a complete dusk till dawn experience sleeping overnight inside the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - something usually unavailable for the general public - while also being able to enjoy the Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema in the gardens while waiting for the Microbats to come out. Working directly with researchers Dr Rodney van der Ree and PhD students, you will survey bats using harp traps and record ultrasonic bat calls with hand-held bat detectors and GPS equipment. You and your team will also investigate the diet of urban bats by using light traps to sample nocturnal insect fauna. Your help on this project will help ensure the Microbat's future in an ever changing urban environment. They have a number of teams running for 2011/2012 with every Saturday team being open to family's (whereby children ages 10-17 may accompany their parents/guardians). Both Fridays and Saturdays are open to adults. All teams meet at 6:30pm then stay overnight in the gardens before leaving after Breakfast at 9am the following day. Available Dates: - Fri 3rd February - Sat 11th February (open to Family's) - Fri 17th February - Sat 25th February (open to Family's) - Sat 3rd March (open to Family's)

Melbourne Open House

Melbourne Open House (MOH) 2012 unlocks the city's significant buildings for the fine people of Melbourne (and her visitors) to explore. It's a rare opportunity to discover the often-hidden wealth of design, architecture, engineering and historic gems nestled around the city. If you love Melbourne, you'll love Melbourne Open House. A free event held over two days in July, MOH in its fifth year promises to be bigger than ever in 2012, with an estimated 100,000 people exploring 100 buildings. Favourite buildings from the past few years are re-opening. Some of the buildings and tours require booking - Bookings commence early July online. Take the opportunity to explore areas that normally may not be accessible and learn more about the city of Melbourne. Pencil in Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 of July on your calendar and prepare to be a tourist in your own city for a day...or two. Melbourne Open House is a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of professionals volunteering their time and services. It's made possible through the generous support of partners, sponsors, building owners and volunteers. Melbourne Open House is a Committee for Melbourne initiative. To view the Melbourne Open House map, please visit the website.

Melbourne Queer Film Festival

It is a queer, queer world and Melbourne will be its epicentre in March when the 21st Melbourne Queer Film Festival takes over the town. Over 11 days an estimated 25,000 film lovers will watch over 140 gender bending films from around the world. The Festival will present a strong program of more than 40 features, in excess of 30 documentaries and over 70 short films selected by Festival Director Lisa Daniel and her trusty selection panel, who over the last 13 years have built the festival into one of the top five Gay and Lesbian film festivals in the world. As well as showcasing the best in Queer cinema, MQFF also supports emerging Australian filmmakers with a jury award for the City of Melbourne Best Australian Short Queer Film. Presented annually with a $2,000 cash prize, an Audience Choice award for Best Feature with a $5000 cash prize, an Audience Choice award for Foreign Language Film with a $5000 cash prize, an Audience Choice award for Best Australian Short Film with a $1,000 cash prize and a Selectors Choice Jury Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film with a $500 cash prize.

Melbourne Writers Festival

In 2012, Melbourne Writers Festival, the city's premier literary event, celebrates its 27th anniversary. The festival brings together an array of talented writers, artists, thinkers and performers from across the globe. Expect the unexpected as Melbourne Writers Festival opens its doors to all - celebrating everything from novels to film, from journalism to songwriting, from comedy to cartooning and from advertising to politics. Please stay tuned to the website for the full details of the 2012 program.

Michael Bolton With Orchestra Victoria

Grammy legend Michael Bolton brings soulful classics, power ballads and beautiful arias to the Regent Theatre Melbourne on Friday 27 April, accompanied by Orchestra Victoria. Accolades for Michael's artistic achievements include two Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance, six American Music Awards, twenty four BMI & ASCAP Awards, nine Million-Air Awards, Hitmakers Songwriter of the Year Award and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Michael's diverse musical interests have produced eight top ten studio albums and nine number one singles across Pop, Jazz and Classical charts, with global sales of more than fifty three million. If your secret passion is Michael Bolton don't miss this sensational night with his band and Orchestra Victoria on Friday 27 April at the Regent Theatre.

Moomba Festival

Get down to Alexandra Gardens (across the Yarra from Fed Square) and Birrarung Marr, and enjoy free family fun over the Labour Day long weekend. With plenty of performances and 100's of activities over four days, everyone will be happy! On the main stage there are gigs all weekend. In the Cultural Quarter you'll have a choice of workshops and entertainment. The kids can try magic classes, circus skills, sports clinics or karaoke. They can watch reptile displays, have their faces painted and watch some great acts. Times you should put in your diary include the Birdman Rally on Sunday at noon and the Parade, Monday at 11am. The Carnival runs daily from 11am to 11pm and nightly fireworks on the Yarra start 9.30pm Saturday - Monday. For full program details visit the Moomba website.

Motherhood

Motherhood is our biological destiny, but for the first time consumerism and marketing has meant the spotlight is well and truly on modern mothers. Motherhood is universal but each woman brings her own history to her family. In a post feminist world, Australian women have been given complete freedom to choose how to raise their children, yet societal expectations of what a mother should be still weigh heavily on the tired shoulders of mothers. Motherhood is a series that aims to explore how women from different backgrounds react to these expectations. A photographic series by Morganna Magee.

Mothers Day Classic

Make Mother's Day a special celebration in 2012 by joining more than 100,000 people nationwide in the Mother's Day Classic to raise money for breast cancer research. The Mother's Day Classic takes place in Melbourne and Geelong plus regional locations across Victoria including Ararat, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura and Wodonga. Bring family and friends or get a team together and walk or run to raise vital funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation's research programs. Tribute cards with personal messages allow participants to dedicate their walk or run to loved ones.

MSO presents Beethoven and Dvorák

The inspiration of the folk music and culture of his native Bohemia invests Dvorák's music with enormous energy and spirit, and his Seventh Symphony explodes with all the passion and vigour of this inspiration. Paired with works by two German masters who inspired him, this concert of great classics is pure delight.

MSO presents Belshazzar's Feast

In the 20th century, Britain overthrew its unfair reputation as a "land without music." Three of the great composers who played key roles in this musical renaissance are featured here. Britten's popular reworking of the music of Purcell, and Sir William Walton's dramatic choral masterpiece, based on a great biblical story, frame a rare gem by Constant Lambert (son of Australian painter George Lambert), which fuses Latin American and jazz influences with a distinctively English temperament.

MSO presents Ears Wide Open 2

Ears Wide Open is an interactive 80-minute journey into music, live on stage, conducted and presented by Australia's most charismatic musical personality, Richard Gill. No piece of instrumental music has been so influential, or continues to be as thought-provoking, as Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. If you want to know more about how this great music works its spell, don't miss Ears Wide Open.

MSO presents Mahler with Emma Matthews

In his Fourth Symphony, Mahler creates a magical evocation of the spirit of childhood, ending with a heartfelt hymn to sacred innocence. Mahler's vision of heaven will beam its radiance with the glowing voice of Australian soprano Emma Matthews. Adding to this rich program, Julian Rachlin, one of today's classical mega-stars, brings his energy and passion to the First Violin Concerto of Shostakovich.

MSO presents Symphonie Fantastique

This concert includes two exuberant musical fantasies, conjured up from the imagination of their composers. You know The Sorcerer's Apprentice from Walt Disney's magical Fantasia, and in the Symphonie Fantastique, you luxuriate in the composer's indulgent contemplation of the ups and downs of love. Acting as a sorbet between them is Stravinsky's sparkling Violin Concerto.

MSO presents The Planets: A Journey in Music and Film

Through movies as diverse as Paradise Road and The Right Stuff, the music of The Planets has permeated our culture. Holst's spectacular astrological journey is one of the most popular of all orchestral works, from the menacing tread of Mars, the Bringer of War to the final movement, Neptune, the Mystic, in which we seem to be adrift in a world of stars and ice. Under dynamic young British conductor Alexander Shelley, this compelling program opens with Mozart's final, sublime symphony.

MSO presents Tognetti Plays Mendelssohn

Two great creative forces of Australian music combine in this concert event of enduring inspiration. Taking the role of lead violin, Richard Tognetti brings his trademark imagination to the tuneful favourite, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Then Nigel Westlake, Australia's brilliant composer of film music (including award-winning scores for Babe and Miss Potter, and the Imax spectaculars Antarctica and Solarmax) introduces his new masterpiece, a work of exultant, universal power born out of profound tragedy.

MSO Sidney Myer Free Concert - Four South American Seasons

Summer in the city means Melbourne's favourite musical treat, the MSO's Sidney Myer Concerts, presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in association with the University of Melbourne. Celebrating their 53rd year in the Bowl in 2012, these glorious events bring beautiful music and great artists from around the world to Australia's greatest outdoor space for music. The new sensation among international conductors, Venezuela's Diego Matheuz, here brings us a celebration of Latin American music. The passion, tunefulness and earthy spirit of this music is encapsulated in the tango, of which composer Astor Piazzolla is recognised as the master. His masterpiece, Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, is the Latin equivalent of Vivaldi's famous work, and for it Matheuz will be joined by sensational young Australian violinist, Kristian Winther. The concert culminates in a blaze of rhythmic energy with Moncayo's jubilant Huapango.

MSO Sidney Myer Free Concert - Rising Star

Summer in the city means Melbourne's favourite musical treat, the MSO's Sidney Myer Concerts, presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in association with the University of Melbourne. Celebrating their 53rd year in the Bowl in 2012, these glorious events bring beautiful music and great artists from around the world to Australia's greatest outdoor space for music. Venezuela has gained fame as the epicentre of a new energy in the world of classical music. Diego Matheuz is the latest star to emerge from this powerhouse, and at just 26, is bringing his combination of Latin flair and technical mastery to the world's leading orchestras. This concert is your chance to experience one of today's rising musical personalities in a program of sumptuous, powerful classics. And don't miss Australian master pianist Ian Munro in Liszt's exciting concerto.

MSO Sidney Myer Free Concert - Russian Rhapsody

Summer in the city means Melbourne's favourite musical treat, the MSO's Sidney Myer Concerts, presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in association with the University of Melbourne. Celebrating their 53rd year in the Bowl in 2012, these glorious events bring beautiful music and great artists from around the world to Australia's greatest outdoor space for music. Russian music thrills with its audacious colours, exuberant force and intense emotions. These features abound in the masterpieces by two greats of Russian Romanticism featured in this opening Bowl season program. Highlights include Rachmaninov's scintillating 'Symphonic Dances' and the heart-rending 'Letter Scene' from Tchaikovsky's operatic masterpiece, 'Eugene Onegin'.

MSO Sidney Myer Free Concerts - Kalkadungu

Summer in the city means Melbourne's favourite musical treat, the MSO's Sidney Myer Concerts, presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in association with the University of Melbourne. Celebrating their 53rd year in the Bowl in 2012, these glorious events bring beautiful music and great artists from around the world to Australia's greatest outdoor space for music. The evocation of places inspires this rich program of musical landscapes. At its centre is the exciting concerto for William Barton, showcasing his charismatic musicianship in an inspiring celebration of indigenous culture. The concert opens with a vivid depiction of a sleazy Mexican bar and concludes with Sibelius' sweeping impression of his native Finland.

New Zealand in a Glass

New Zealand is a land like no other. New Zealand wine is an experience like no other. The special combination of soil, climate and water, their innovative pioneering spirit and their commitment to quality all come together to deliver pure, intense and diverse experiences. In every glass of New Zealand wine is a world of pure discovery. Join over 60 premium wineries at the exclusive, once-a-year tasting, featuring 25 new wineries and over 400 wines on taste, in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Meet the representatives, hear their stories, taste their exceptional wines and make their discoveries your own. Get involved with the live Twitter feed and join the #nzwine conversation on the big screen! As one of Australia's most popular trade and consumer premium wine events, New Zealand in a Glass sells out quickly so ensure you book early to avoid disappointment. Visit and win! Guests also have the chance to win return airfares for two to New Zealand courtesy of Air New Zealand.

North Melbourne Market

Skirting the city of Melbourne, just north of it to be exact, is a little town with a BIG heart, and an even bigger Market. Here, in North Melbourne the locals have been beavering away grinding the tastiest coffee in the southern hemisphere, launching Thread Den (oh, can you learn how to sew here?!), reviving vintage classics, serving up the biggest omelettes in the a.m. and biggest mojitos at p.m. and being visited by the best of Melbourne's Festivals. Right here, the North Melbourne Market is setting up shop every month, wall-to-wall, room-to-room, chandelier-to-chandelier with stalls. Slap bang in the middle of Errol Street, the Thread Den team flip open the unassuming double doors to the Melbourne Lithuanian Club and switch on every light for an indoor market adventure of 70 stalls. Stalls that sell vintage fabrics and clothing, sweet treats, local designer clothing, kids head-to-toe cute stuff, handmade jewellery, homewares, artists' creations and other particularly and peculiarly unique things you've never seen before. Trailing along the lobby towards the ballroom and winding up a flight of stairs, it defies how much talent you can squeeze under one roof. The North Melbourne Market runs on one Sunday per month from 10am to 3pm.

Opera in the Market

One of Melbourne's most highly anticipated philanthropic arts events, returns to the Queen Victoria Market and is now incorporated into the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. With Opera in the Market in its twelfth year, Australian Music Events is delighted to continue the exciting partnership with St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. Artists for 2012 to be announced soon. The Opera Food and Wine Trail: Be sure to take time before the performance and during interval to explore this innovative food and wine showcase of all things Victorian. Stimulate your senses whilst feasting on an exquisite selection of tasting plates created by some of Melbourne's top chefs and caterers; sip and savour the very finest Victorian wines and micro-brews. During interval visit the final stretch of the trail with a selection of petite desserts ready and waiting for you to devour. Private Market Stall Packages will provide a premium hospitality experience inclusive of complimentary car parking to ensure a comfortable arrival at the Queen Victoria Market and pre-dinner drinks in your exclusive themed market stall. A special degustation menu will be complemented with fine wines and micro-brews from Victoria, and hosts will escort you and your guests to VIP concerts seats. An exquisite dessert buffet awaits during interval.

Piano Man Returns

After his thrilling Liberace concert in 2011, the musical maestro Adam Przewlocki returns to bring you a smorgasbord of great romantic piano classics with special guest instrumentalists from the Victorian College of the Arts. Part of the 2012 Magical Musical Mornings, Summer Series, with Jonathon Welch AM. Concerts go for 75 minutes and are followed by a free morning tea.

Planetshakers Conference

Planetshakers Conference is aimed at impacting and empowering people of all ages to be all they can be and to make a difference in their community. Previously a youth conference held in four states each January with 25,000 attendees, Planetshakers Conference has emerged and is now a national conference held in Melbourne, Australia. It will incorporate three separate conferences in one, an 18+ Conference, Youth Conference and Children's Conference.

Polish Festival @ Federation Square

Ever wished you could just stick a pin in the map, tap your shoes and transport yourself to somewhere exciting and faraway? To spend a day of your weekend overseas, but be back in the comfort of your own home Sunday night? Well, forget plane tickets and hanging around airports for hours - with just a short drive or train trip, you can experience all the captivating colour, sounds and aromas of a European market square right here in the centre of Melbourne! As it has done with astounding success for seven years now, the Polish Festival at Federation Square recreates Melbourne's most iconic space into an experience straight out of Krakow's Old Town. Packed with all the things people travel the globe for, there'll be lively music and dancing, mouth-watering food and beverages as well as a plethora of unique merchandise - from T-shirts to Christmas decorations, books to jewellery, and of course travel services, should you love the recreation so much you decide to check out the original! Down by the Yarra there'll also be the all-day Kid's Stop, where the little 'uns can get creative at their own private party, and for grown-ups, our ever-popular beer garden, offering a chance to relax in the shade and sample some of Poland's world-class ale. Up on the square's main stage, Poland's various distinct regions will be represented in a packed 7-hour program, that takes you right around the country in a whirlwind spectacle of song and dance. All Melburnians are warmly invited to take advantage of the once-a-year travel offer on Sunday 18 November, and experience the festive and fun-loving heart of Poland in the sun-drenched surrounds of Melbourne. Unlike the travel agents, this trip is absolutely free, no insurance needed and is definitely not to be missed!

Pottery Expo @ Federation Square

The Pottery Expo project was created in 2001 by Jane Annois, an internationally exhibited Australian ceramic artist and teacher. The project aims to promote high quality innovative studio ceramics created by Australian ceramic artists, bringing these art works to the public at various venues. Expo's are held in Warrandyte, Federation Square and Gapsted. The first Pottery Expo @ Federation Square in November 2005 was a great success and it has now become a popular annual event. The Potter Expos are a great opportunity to meet and see the work of not only local potters but also those from around Victoria and interstate. Pottery Expo is based on the concept of the Marché de Potiers [Potters Markets] of France. Bringing ceramic art more into the public arena is an important part of fostering the growth and development of this artistic field. Some feature attractions include: - Many of Victoria's finest ceramic artists presenting their work for sale. Meet the artists, be captivated by their work - Activities and Demonstrations throughout the day: throwing, decorating, sculpting, hand-building and more - TAFE and University ceramics courses represented by students and lecturers - Ceramic products and information available (books, clay, tools, etc) - Food and refreshments on-site - Live music

Ranjani Shettar: Dewdrops and Sunshine

The National Gallery of Victoria has launched its newest contemporary art space with a spectacular exhibition of work by internationally renowned contemporary artist, Ranjani Shettar (1977 - ). Ranjani Shettar: Dewdrops and Sunshine showcases the artist's unique approach to sculpture including material experimentation, relationship to space, engagement with nature, exploration of tradition and resonance with modernism. Often transforming natural phenomena into magical forms, Shettar creates sculptures informed by a material openness that borrows from Indian craft traditions filtered through her own novel sensibility. Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV, said: "We are delighted to be opening this new space dedicated to contemporary art in our 150th anniversary year. Visitors to Ranjani Shettar will be amazed by the diversity of the materials used, the biological and cultural concepts Shettar explores and the spatial engagement one has with the works - truly a phenomenal experience." Dr Alex Baker, Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, NGV, said: "Shettar's choice of media in the creation of the art on view is a wide range of the organic and human-made, including tamarind kernel paste, muslin, lacquer, wood, automotive paint, fishing line, beeswax, dyed thread, latex rubber and steel." Ranjani Shettar: Dewdrops and Sunshine will be on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road from 4 November 2011 - 26 February 2012.

Redbank Long Lunch @ Section 8

Section 8 - container bar and Redbank wines are launching lunchtime Gourmet BBQ on Fridays. Between 12pm and 3pm drop in for a Gourmet Foot Long Sausage and wine accompaniment, prepared by executive chef James Wilkinson - expect eggplant jam, to die for relishes, baby gherkins and other surprises to pimp you dog with. Take the lunchtime meeting outside and make sure you arrive hungry!

Roll Up at St Kilda Festival

Ride your bike to the St Kilda Festival 2012 and experience VIP valet parking courtesy of Roll Up. The fantastic initiative by the Squeaky Wheel provides cyclists with free, convenient and secure parking when attending events. Supported by the VicHealth MOTION program, Roll Up is a service for hire that helps arts-goers live a physically, mentally and socially healthy lifestyle by cycling to their events. Visit the Vic Health website for more information.

Softbelly Comedy

Melbourne's newest top quality night of comedy is here! Every Thursday and Sunday night in the city, Softbelly Comedy has some of the biggest names in Australian comedy, in a funky inner-city surrounding. Get out of the house on Thursday or Sunday nights, get dinner, then get in to watch big TV and radio names, plus some of the best new Melbourne faces, at Softbelly Comedy! Softbelly has hosted Pete Helliar, Jimeoin, Wil Anderson, Claire Hooper, Charlie Pickering, Glenn Robbins, Tom Ballard, Dave Callan and heaps more! Every Sunday evening during summer have Adam Hills dropping in to try new jokes!

Strange Melbourne Tour True Secrets

Your smart phone becomes a time machine that pulls you into an augmented digital reality of Melbourne as True Secrets recreates the characters, the place, the period and the mood of seven strange secret moments of the city. Get the tour and have the Artistic Director and creator John Paul Fischbach reveal more than just the secrets on this two hour walking guided tour of Melbourne. "It's like you're a ghost in their world." says creator John Paul Fischbach. With maps, newspaper clippings and photographs viewers become voyeurs when John Paul accompanies you and your smart phone to the physical locations and listen to these highly entertaining secret events brought to life by professional actors. "With headphones on the experience becomes a private and immersive alternate reality," notes co-creator and IT wiz Craig Lambie, "Recent improvements to mobile internet now allows for high quality sound to be streamed to a handset while you are looking at the actual place that the characters are inhabiting what you are hearing is so real it is like a parallel reality." You will experience a possible assassination attempt from the top of the Manchester Unity Building during the Beatles' tour; Melbourne; life during the gangster period of the 1920s; a particular Melbourne Cup Day when the police went out on strike leaving the city vulnerable to crime; the final shift at the call centre of One.tel high up in the Rialto Tower; secrets known by the stone gargoyles outside the ANZ bank building; and there are two other stories rated M: The disappearance of the Parliamentary Mace at Madam Brussels' brothel; and the frightening night when 400 people were strip-searched at the Tasty nightclub raid.

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

For sixteen summers, Roo and Barney have spent their long lay-off from the cane-cutting season down in Melbourne having a high old time with two Carlton barmaids, Olive and Nancy. It has been a carefree ritual that never looked like ending. But back for their seventeenth summer, the blokes find that Nancy is married and Olive has roped in a friend, Pearl, to take her place. And for a while they all do a fair job of kidding themselves that time has not finally caught up with them. The day MTC premiered Ray Lawler's groundbreaking play in 1955 marked the beginning of modern Australian drama. This story of shattered illusions has been revived many times since, but never with such imagination and heart as in Neil Armfield's new production. A Belvoir Production

Sustainable Living Festival

Australia is the lucky country. With our golden soil and wealth for toil and our beauty rich and rare we must feel pretty darn lucky, right? But what's our future look like? Can we sustain the great Australian way of life? It looks like rough times ahead for our economy and environment if we don't act now to create a sustainable Australia. The festival showcases how we can make the most of our lucky country for now and generations to come. The 16-day program features events in iconic Melbourne locations and across Victoria. Come see, touch, taste and explore the best and brightest sustainability inspirations at the 2012 Sustainable Living Festival. The Festival's Big Weekend 17-19 February at Federation Square celebrates sustainability in the heart of the city with interactive workshops, talks, demonstrations, artworks, exhibits, films and live performances.

Tai Chi at Fed Square

Start each week feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and energised with Tai Chi, the Chinese martial art that promotes health and relaxation. Join expert instructors from Tai Chi Australia in the Main Square (The Atrium if it's raining) for a free class every Tuesday morning. Exercise your mind, body and soul in this inspiring location.

Thai Culture and Food Festival

Join the Thai community as they celebrate and showcase their rich and historical culture. The 9th Annual Festival will begin with a traditional blessing by Buddhist monks, and an opening ceremony. Federation Square will be transformed into a haven of Thai culture with booths showcasing Thai arts and crafts, Thai tourism and Thai kick boxing. On offer there will also be Thai massage and information about Thailand and its people. There will be continuous entertainment on stage with performances of Thai dance, Thai kickboxing, a Miss Thailand beauty contest and a fashion parade. The fashion parade will be featuring the best in Thai designs including famous Thai silk. Thai Product stalls will sell Thai produce. Enjoy 30 performers direct from Thailand plus local talent. The riverbank side of Fed Square will be bedecked with food tents featuring 20 of Melbourne's premier Thai restaurants serving Thai delicacies and highlighting regional food and drink specialities as well as the famous Singha Beer gardens and music stage and live performances and more in the BMW Edge theatre. The Festival attracted 65,000 people to Federation Square last year - it is a fun-filled family event and it is free! Visit the website for further details.

The Arts Centre Sunday Market

The Arts Centre Sunday Market brings together over 80 of Victoria's finest artisans, right in the heart of Melbourne. Every Sunday from 10am - 4pm, local artists and producers fill the Arts Centre Lawn to showcase a variety of unique, handmade goods ranging from arts and crafts to freshly made delicacies. Everything on offer at the Arts Centre Sunday Market is made locally, making the market a real favourite for those seeking one-of-a-kind treasures for themselves or as gifts. Just a short walk over the bridge from Flinders Street Station, the Arts Centre Sunday Market is a much-loved weekly event, with the relaxed feel of a regional craft market against the backdrop of Melbourne's buzzing arts precinct.

The Famous Spiegel Season

The Famous Spiegel Season is presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, the largest performing arts centre in Australia attracting more than 2.7 million visitors each year, and is situated in the heart of Melbourne's cultural precinct.into Be entertained by over 200 dazzling performances encompassing cabaret, live music, comedy and entertainment for the family and kids in The Famous Spiegeltent - a playground for adults and children alike.

The Light in Winter

In 2012 Federation Square gives you another bright reason to rug up and head for the city. Directed by Robyn Archer, The Light in Winter is a light-based festival that brings together artists, designers and communities to explore their ideas of light, enlightenment and hope. The festival will include thirteen light installations created by Melbourne's multicultural communities as part of the 'Gift of Light' along with a major international commission. Come in out of the cold and enjoy the heartening glow of the Light in Winter.

The Mad Square: Modernity in German Art 1910–37

In an era of chaos came an explosion of creativity - experimental, provocative and utterly compelling. Germany in the early twentieth century was a country in turmoil. After the First World War, the monarchy was abolished and replaced with the Weimar Republic. This was a period of political unrest, but it was also an era of optimism characterised by industrial development, innovation, and unprecedented freedom of expression. In Berlin and cities throughout Germany, avant-garde art movements flourished: Expressionism, Dada, Constructivism, Bauhaus and New Objectivity. Artists shared interest in radical experimentation extended across all art forms, including painting, photography, design, decorative arts, film, theatre and political satire. The Mad Square: Modernity in German Art 1910-37 shows the diversity of the art created in this period. The exhibition brings together over 200 works exploring the fascinating and complex ways in which artists represented the modern world, including major works by Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, George Grosz, Christian Schad, Hannah Höch, August Sander, László Moholy-Nagy and El Lissitzky. Drawn from renowned international and Australian collections, this is the most comprehensive exhibition of German modernism to be seen in Australia. An Art Gallery of New South Wales travelling exhibition.

The Spring Graze

The Spring Graze, from the makers of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, welcomes the start of spring with more than 60 events across Melbourne and Victoria throughout September. From gourmet picnics and alfresco dining under the warm spring sunshine, to tastings of delicate new-release wines and dinners inspired by multi-cultural traditions, restaurants, wineries and producers will celebrate the Put Victoria on Your Table philosophy by drawing on a bounty of new-season produce. For a full listing of The Spring Graze events, visit the website.

The Suzuki Night Market

The Suzuki Night Market season begins on Wednesday November 16th, 2011! Food Take a tour of world flavours. Over 35 stalls prepare fresh food on-site from a range of cuisines, including: Indian, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Spanish, Dutch and Middle Eastern. Bars and Wineries Fully licensed bars where you can select from a range of Victoria's regional vineyards. Enjoy their best vintages by the glass or bottle on the night or take some home for the cellar. Free Entertainment Two stages showcasing the best world music and live entertainment Melbourne has to offer! Shopping, Shopping, Shopping! Over 150 vendors offering everything from unique clothing and jewellery through to original prints and plants, promising a unusual shopping experience that will have you coming back for more. Health and Harmony An area dedicated to mind, body and spirit - enjoy massage therapists, visit tarot and aura readers, reflexology and iridology practitioners. Regional Food Stock the pantry with a selection of Victoria's regional fare. Taste a delightful array of food to take home. Includes wonderful chutneys, mustards, olive oils, fudge and both fresh and dried fruit.

Tjukurrtjanu: Origins of Western Desert Art,

The National Gallery of Victoria and Museum Victoria present Tjukurrtjanu: Origins of Western Desert Art, a superb exhibition which features over 200 of the first paintings produced at Papunya in 1971-72 by the founding artists of the Western Desert art movement. Works by such celebrated artists as Uta Uta Tjangala, Shorty Lungkata Tjungurrayi and Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula display the mastery of colour and style that characterises the work of the founding Papunya Tula painters. This important exhibition is presented in partnership with Papunya Tula Artists, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Papunya Tula movement and the 150th anniversary of the NGV. These extraordinary works sparked the genesis of the Western Desert art movement, now internationally recognised as one of the most important events in Australian art history. The period 1971-72 was a critical turning point, when the ancient visual language of the Western Desert was rendered permanent on sheets of composition board and thereby transformed into a rich new art form. Frances Lindsay, Deputy Director, NGV said: "This highly significant exhibition investigates the origins at Papunya of a major contemporary art. At Papunya in the early 1970s a group of senior Indigenous men began to transpose their ephemeral ritual designs on to board. This new art form has changed the way we see the land and the history of art in this country." Tjukurrtjanu: Origins of Western Desert Art is on display until 12 February 2012 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.

Viva Victoria 2012

Come along and celebrate Victoria's 10th Cultural Diversity Week at the Viva Victoria festival! Each year Cultural Diversity Week brings together Victorians from all backgrounds to celebrate and recognise the State's wonderful cultural diversity. Viva Victoria is a free one-day festival of spectacular musical and dance performances across three stages at Federation Square. You can sample delicious food from around the world, explore the cultural arts and crafts market, and there's plenty of free kids activities and cultural workshops to entertain and inspire. Don't miss out on the vibrant sights, sounds and tastes on offer, as Victoria celebrate it's multiculturalism. There is something for everyone at Viva Victoria!