Welcoming in the winter months, the reimagined NGV Friday Nights offers an after-hours ode to the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Pharaoh.
Taking place at NGV International with extended late-night access to the winter blockbuster exhibition, the season presents a diverse line-up of music residencies, pop-up performances, Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine, and an array of drink offerings.
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Every Friday night, a rotating program of performance residencies will surprise and delight with unique musical experiences in the Great Hall. Inspired by the Pharaoh exhibition, each week audiences will be taken on a different musical journey, with a selection of music and performances, from jazz to cabaret, to classical, funk and blues.
Curating a variety of ensembles over the coming fortnight, Australian Art Orchestra bring jazz, rap, folk music and beyond to the Friday Nights stage. With decades of radio experience, presenter and producer of radio program Flight 1067 to Africa, Stani Goma, will draw on his knowledge and passion of music to present curated sounds of the African continent throughout August.
Later in the season, the team from Brunswick live-music venue, Tempo Rubato will gather some of Australia’s most highly skilled artists to create a spectrum of sounds using instruments that have been evolving for hundreds of years.
For the final three weeks of Friday Nights, not-for-profit record label and artist community Music in Exile will bring their artist-first approach to NGV with a series of performances that reflect the range of viewpoints and experiences of Australia’s diverse communities.
NGV Friday Nights offers late-night access to the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces 2024 exhibition Pharaoh, celebrating three thousand years of ancient Egyptian art and culture. The exhibition unpacks the phenomenon of pharaoh through more than 500 works including monumental sculpture, architecture, temple statuary, exquisite jewellery, papyri, coffins and more.
In the Great Hall, visitors can enjoy the unmissable Moët & Chandon bar, serving both the iconic Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut and Rosé champagne, while the Yering Station Wine Bar will serve fine wines from the Yarra Valley. Throughout NGV Friday Nights, guests can enjoy a selection of Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine including modern mezze plates for sharing, gozleme, plus a variety of irresistible desserts.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV said: ‘The NGV Friday Nights series continues to be a highlight of the winter season. Alongside the chance to explore the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces 2024 exhibition Pharaoh after-hours, this year’s program features an even greater range of diverse musical performances from the community, carefully curated by our guest residencies.’
NGV Friday Nights guest residencies line-up:
- 19 July – Australian Art Orchestra curates Koi Kingdom
- 26 July – Australian Art Orchestra curates Ball/Hanlan/Schulz feat. Vahideh Eisaei
- 2 August – Stani Goma curates Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble (MATE)
- 9 August – Stani Goma curates Fem Belling
- 16 August – Stani Goma curates Kunjani
- 23 August – Tempo Rubato curates Katie Yap & Donald Nicolson
- 30 August – Tempo Rubato curates David Griffiths & Svetlana Bogosavljevic
- 6 September – Tempo Rubato curates Sophia Kirsanova & Melbourne Strings
- 13 September – Tempo Rubato curates Affinity Quartet
- 20 September – Music in Exile curates Ajak Kwai
- 27 September – Music in Exile
- 4 October – Music in Exile
NGV Friday Nights runs until 4 October 2024 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. NGV Friday Nights tickets and information are available via the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE.
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has meticulously curated the Pharaoh exhibition for 2024, a breathtaking showcase that delves into the rich history and culture of ancient Egypt. This exhibition came to fruition through years of international collaboration with renowned archaeologists, historians and museums, including the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and London’s British Museum. The NGV has sought to present a comprehensive narrative by bringing together iconic artefacts, immersive multimedia displays, and interactive elements. This painstaking effort reflects NGV’s commitment to educating and inspiring the public while celebrating the timeless allure of ancient Egyptian civilisation.
Pharaoh is on display 14 June – 6 October 2024 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Pharaoh tickets and information are available via the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE
Image credit: NGV Friday Nights 2024 Photos: Michael Pham.