Description

Melbourne Recital Centre is an award-winning live music venue where artists and audiences build a lifetime of memorable experiences. Since opening in 2009, the centre has been a major contributor to Australia’s vibrant musical landscape, and is a testament to the passion, vision, and generosity of Melbourne’s music-loving community and hosts hundreds of concerts each year.

The building features two striking performance spaces, carefully crafted by ARM Architecture to bring musicians and music-lovers closer together. The Elisabeth Murdoch Hall is lined with exquisite plywood panels of Australian plantation hoop pine timber, designed to resemble the back of a beautiful instrument and provide greater acoustic intimacy across the 1000-seat auditorium. The platform acoustics enrich the strength, clarity and blending of instruments as well as the communication between ensemble players on stage. The organic acoustics of the hall extend to the Primrose Potter Salon, an intimate 150-seat performance and event space. Melbourne-born composer Percy Grainger’s 1937 graphic score, Free Music No.2, is inscribed across the surface to inspire players and audiences alike.

Melbourne Recital Centre is ranked amongst the world’s greatest halls for its uncompromised acoustics, designed by leading global firm ARUP Acoustics.

What's On

Explore Melbourne Recital Centre, where live music lives. Take a deep dive into the Centre’s history with guided venue tours, join our free community choir in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall for a singalong, listen to ARM Architecture, ARUP and LendLease discuss the design of the space or see our artist in residence, Robin Fox present a lecture on the history of electronic music in Australia.
 
Choir 3006
Join us for a special session of Choir 3006 in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall! Led by dynamic choral conductor Renee Heron, Choir 3006 is our free community choir where all are welcome. No singing experience required!

ARM Architecture, ARUP and LendLease in conversation
Join the architects, acousticians and builders in a conversation about the design and construction of Melbourne Recital Centre.

Artist in residence: Robin Fox
Visionary audio-visual raconteur and founding director of Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS), Robin Fox is our artist in residence.
View antique instruments from the MESS collection in the Primrose Potter Salon.

Guided Tours of the Centre
Get to know Melbourne Recital Centre with a guided tour where you can get up close to the beauty of the timber-lined Elisabeth Murdoch Hall and learn about the design of our world-class performance spaces. During this hour-long tour, you'll get the chance to explore backstage, gain an appreciation of the Centre's design and marvel at the architecture of this fascinating venue.

This site is mobility-friendly and neurodiverse considerate. Find out more on our new Access Map.