Now or Never and Museums Victoria presents
In the Upper Room
with Maki Namekawa & Orchestra Victoria
A unique concert experience celebrating the legacy of visionary composer Philip Glass.
Witness two major works by one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Widely recognised as a pioneering figure of minimalism, Glass’s music is characterised by cyclical patterns, driving rhythms and gradual transformation — though he resisted the minimalist label, preferring to define his work on its own structural terms.
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Melbourne
21 August 2026 , 6:30pm
Royal Exhibition Building
9 Nicholson Street
Carlton
VIC 3053
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Duration
3 hours and 15 minutes including interval
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Ticket Price Range
Premium: $130
General Admission: $75
BLAKTIX: $50
+ Booking Fee
First, Orchestra Victoria performs In the Upper Room, a rarely presented work of scale, intensity and layered sound, conducted by Fabian Russell. Originally composed for Twyla Tharp’s landmark ballet, this concert presentation places the focus squarely on Glass’s composition.
Then, world-renowned concert pianist Maki Namekawa brings Piano Etudes 1–10 to life. A leading interpreter of Glass’s music, Namekawa brings extraordinary clarity and intensity to these meditative studies. Having worked closely with the composer, she is widely regarded as the definitive interpreter of the Etudes, revealing profound emotional depth beneath their elegant structures.
Together, these performances span the intimate and the monumental: a hypnotic, ever-shifting journey through the revolutionary music of Philip Glass.
Program
Philip Glass
In the Upper Room
Piano Etudes 1 - 10
Photo Florian Voggeneder
Cast & Creatives
Act I:
Orchestra Victoria
Fabian Russell conductor
Justine Anderson soprano
Act II:
Maki Namekawa
Accessibility
Please find below key information about the accessibility of this program. For more details, please visit the event page or the Royal Exhibition Building information page on the Now or Never website.
Please find below key information about the accessibility of this program. For more details, please visit the event page or the Royal Exhibition Building information page on the Now or Never website.
75% Aural Rating
This event is primarily sound-based, with visuals only incidental to the work.
Accessible for low vision
This event can provide access for people who are blind or have low vision.
Accessible toilet
An accessible toilet is available at this event.
Language no barrier
For this event, audiences can understand and engage with the event without a comprehensive understanding of the English language.
Wheelchair accessible
Accessible by wheelchair.
Presenting Partners
