five decades of Australia’s leading classical music network

From 6am through to midnight, listeners across the country are invited to be part of a national celebration. The broadcast is set to feature archival recordings, ‘best of’ live concerts, tributes from past and present presenters, listener stories, and other memorable moments that have defined half a century of classical music on air.

ABC Classic presenters will be at the helm throughout the day, sharing stories, surprises and special recordings made exclusively for ABC Classic.

The celebrations begin with Ed Le Brocq, followed by Megan Burslem and Genevieve Lang across the morning. Mairi Nicolson, Vanessa Hughes, Russell Torrance and Alice Keath carry the broadcast into the afternoon, before Joel Carnegie, Lucas Burns and Danielle McGrane bring the celebrations to a close in the evening.

The broadcast will feature two specially curated concert programs showcasing the very best of ABC Classic’s live music archive. The programs highlight moments that speak to the network’s history and the importance of documenting artists from every corner of Australia.

Featured will be acclaimed pianist, new ABC Classic presenter and host of ABC’s The Piano, Andrea Lam, performing Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from her 1999 Young Performers Awards appearance, alongside outstanding Australian musicians including Diana Doherty, Marshall McGuire and Emily Sun.

Australia’s state orchestras, under renowned conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Riccardo Muti, Jaime Martín and Stuart Challender, also feature across the day.

The celebration will also include music given premiere radio plays by ABC Classic, with works by Australian composers Lachlan Skipworth, Alice Chance, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon and Elena Kats‑Chernin, plus Classic 100 favourites from across the years.

In this milestone celebration, ABC Classic will honour the listeners, presenters, musicians and moments that have made it a trusted and much-loved part of Australian life for 50 years.

Listen to ABC Classic on the radio, stream online or via the ABC listen app. For more info about Classic’s 50th, head to the ABC Classic website or connect via Instagram and Facebook.

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