WELCOME TOUR 2026 CONCERT SERIES - TOUR DE FORCE!
We present 4 of the biggest symphonies and 4 of the most important concertos ever written for a modern orchestra. These gigantic works are equally terrifying and glorious - it’s sure to be a memorable year for both our audience and players!
From Mozart’s classic Clarinet Concerto to Prokofiev’s powerful 5th Symphony, Corpus Medicorum’s 2026 has something for everyone.
We welcome special guest artists Anna da Silva Chen (violin) , Frank Celata (clarinet), Charlotte Miles (cello) and the extraordinary Alexander Gavrylyuk (piano). Fabian Russell takes the podium as Chief Conductor for our concert season.
It will truly be a Tour de Force of wondrous and exciting live music. We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne’s favourite concert hall. Remember that you will be helping Royal Melbourne Hospital patients with Lung Cancer on their important treatment journey.
Phillip Antippa OAM
Director
TOUR DE FORCE #1
First Excellent Concert - Rachmaninov Concerto no.3 with superstar pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk followed by Prokofiev Symphony No.5
Welcome to the first programme of our Tour de Force concert series! It starts with Sergei Rachmaninov’s epic 3rd Piano Concerto and followed by the powerful 5th symphony of Sergei Prokofiev. We are thrilled to welcome the incredible Alexander Gavrylyuk to join us for a very special concert of awe-inspiring music. Corpus Medicorum is directed by Fabian Russell and proceeds will benefit our patients with Lung Cancer at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
March 15, 2026
Melbourne Recital Centre
PROGRAMME:
RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto 3 (42’)
Soloist - Alexander Gavrylyuk
PROKOFIEV Symphony 5 (45’)
Conductor - Fabian Russell
TOUR DE FORCE #2
Second Excellent Concert - Epic Dancing and A Clarinet Concerto! Adams The Chairman Dances, Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances and Mozart Clarinet Concerto with Frank Celata.
Welcome to our second programme in our Tour de Force concert series. We are dancing all concert to this lively programme beginning with The Chairman Dances by John Adams and finishing with The Symphonic Dances of Rachmaninov. Sandwiched in the middle we welcome our long-time friend Frank Celata to play Mozart’s highly popular Clarinet Concerto. Directed by Fabian Russel and all proceeds will benefit our patients with Lung Cancer at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. A memorable and wonderful concert to keep your feet tapping for days!
May 24, 2026
Melbourne Recital Centre
PROGRAMME:
ADAMS - The Chairman Dances (13’)
MOZART - Clarinet Concerto (26’)
Soloist - Frank Celata
RACHMANINOV - Symphonic Dances (34’)
Conductor - Fabian Russell
TOUR DE FORCE #3
Third Excellent Concert - The Sublime Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with Anna De Silva Chen and the Massive Bruckner Symphony no.8 with Fabian Russell.
Welcome to our third programme in our Tour de Force concert series. We present for your pleasure Mendelssohn’s sublimely beautiful Violin Concerto with the wonderful Anna De Silva Chen - a masterful work and a favourite for us all. Then sit back and enjoy Bruckner’s sumptuous and powerful 8th Symphony - a large symphony played by a large orchestra complete with Wagner Tubas! Directed by Fabian Russell and proceeds to benefit our patients with Lung Cancer at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
AUGUST 02, 2026
Melbourne Recital Centre
PROGRAMME:
MENDELSSOHN - Violin Concerto (26’)
Soloist - Anna De Silva Chen
BRUCKNER - Symphony 8 (68’)
Conductor - Fabian Russell
TOUR DE FORCE #4
Fourth Excellent Concert - Music doesn’t get much better than this! Dvorak Cello Concerto with Charlotte Miles and Shostakovich Symphony 10 with Fabian Russel
Welcome to our final concert in our 2026 Tour de Force concert series. This powerful and compelling concert draws our massive year of music-making to a close. And what better way to do this with Dvorak’s terrific Cello Concerto and Shostakovich’s terrifying Symphony no.10? We welcome back Charlotte Miles - our superstar Australian cellist from Germany and again directed by Maestro Fabian Russell. A wonderful way to end our musical year - please join us and remember that all proceeds will benefit our patients with Lung Cancer at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
DECEMBER 06, 2026
Melbourne Recital Centre
PROGRAMME:
DVOŘÁK - Cello Concerto (42’)
Soloist - Charlotte Miles
SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony 10 (51’)
Conductor - Fabian Russell