Created In Partnership With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
In late 1986, British pop-rock legend Elton John headed down under on his ‘Tour De Force’ tour. Over 26 shows, Elton dazzled Australians with his high-energy stage presence and hits that have since turned into classics. The ‘Tour De Force’ marked Elton’s first return to the antipodes in two years and included 11 nights at the Sydney Entertainment Centre — making it a marathon of performances for the beloved singer.
There was a major point of difference on the ‘Tour De Force’, however. The concerts featured two distinct halves. The first set was what you’d envision for an Elton John concert — hits bashed out expertly on his piano, Elton dressed in his signature flamboyant dress and wigs, all performed with his 14-piece band. In the second half of the concerts, Elton John performed with both his band and the 88-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The singer also swapped his bright jumpsuits and eyewear for a Mozart-inspired powdered wig and 18th-century formal wear. It marked the beginning of entertaining collaborations between classical orchestras and pop performances.
Forty years later, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is paying tribute to the groundbreaking performances with ‘The Music of Elton’. Across four nights in October, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (which is celebrating 120 years in 2026) will revisit the concerts and bring some of Elton’s famous songs to life in the beautiful Hamer Hall.
While Elton himself won’t be in attendance, this tribute show features singer and pianist Jason Dean and his band, Superband. The full orchestra will be helmed under the baton and musical direction of Chong Lim AM. One of Australia’s most respected musical directors, Chong Lim AM has worked on tours with industry titans including John Farnham, Kylie Minogue, and Olivia Newton-John, and directed cultural sporting moments including multiple Commonwealth and Asian Games and the Australian Open Women’s Final, amongst others.
“It’s an enormous honour to revisit that historic and exciting moment in music history,” says Chong Lim. “It really made it possible to meld the two different worlds of rock and classical music, which has led the way to numerous orchestral and rock collaborations today.”
Elton John’s catalogue, which began in 1968, is known for its piano-heavy melodies and emotional lyrics, so how does it translate to an orchestra-heavy arrangement? “Elton’s songs are so well written and have harmonic chord progressions that lend themselves to epic orchestral arrangements,” says Chong. “I’m very excited to put my own spin on these iconic songs.”
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
According to Chong, arranging Elton’s iconic and recognisable music has taken a lot of toil and effort, but the payoff is set to be worth a watch. “On the one hand, one has to be very respectful to the original intent of the songs and on the other, one must respectfully and sensitively add an extra layer of colour to lift the songs. The beautifully written pieces lend themselves naturally to the vast sound of a symphony orchestra.”
Prudence Davis, the Principal Flute for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1980, was on the original tour forty years ago and is now taking part in the tribute shows running from Thursday, October 1st, until Sunday, October 4th. Prudence said of the 1986 performances, “For the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to step sideways and embrace what became an outrageous success was brave and groundbreaking. Revisiting that moment today brings back the happiest of memories, not only for the exceptional opportunity that it was to tour nationally, but to tour with the man who had provided a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth.”
Since the 1970s, when Elton catapulted to fame with Your Song, the charismatic performer has continued to charm audiences, and there’s no denying that Elton’s music has defied generations.
“Elton’s music has simplicity and complexity, beauty and edginess. It can speak to everyone and has been doing so for generations. It doesn’t date,” says Prudence.
With ‘The Music of Elton’ performances being a Melbourne-exclusive, Prudence notes the long-held connection between the British singer and the Victorian capital city.
“Elton is part of the cultural thread of Melbourne, and any opportunity to reconnect with his timeless creativity strengthens all of the connections that have gone before. It is the shared experiences that cement his music’s cultural place in Melbourne. People that I meet today still recall the tour we did back in 1986.”
Whether you were also in attendance at the ‘Tour De Force’ forty years ago or are a young fan who never got to see the Crocodile Rock singer perform his hits live, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s October tribute concert, ‘The Music of Elton’, is sure to be a moment of celebration, nostalgia and orchestral-led appreciation for the beloved Rocket Man.
Book your tickets now.
Image Credit: Supplied
