Spectacular in every sense, the 2025 New Years Eve & The Day Before Gala Concerts blend premium headliners, dynamite dancers, and sterling musicianship from the Australian Pops Orchestra for a thoroughly entertaining and highly memorable experience.

While Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at Melbourne Recital Centre may be less capacious than the usual Hamer Hall, performance levels are not remotely scaled down, ensuring a dazzling visual and aural performance. 

Sharing the staging with the series of Holiday Concerts presented by John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra, the artists are backed by a multi-coloured twinkling star cloth and vertical hanging tube lights, programmed by lighting designer Peter Darby to aesthetically support each number. 

With the benefit of the lush arrangements of Matt Amy and the clean sound design of Danny Olesh, the instrumental and vocal music can be enjoyed as performed with consummate flair by the 40 musicians and three headline artists. Maestro Foreman glides effortlessly between musical styles, leading the musicians and singers in supportive and joyful manner. Capably accompanying the songs in lavish style, the orchestra comes into their own with instrumental highlights, including the delights of the “The Skaters’ Waltz” and the fiery “William Tell Overture.”

While the orchestra warms up the crowd with the prelude to Carmen, the high standard to come is instantly established in splashy opening number “Puttin’ On the Ritz,” complete with cheeky customised lyrics. Stars Maria Prior, Simon Gleeson, and Lucy Durack take to the stage alongside the first of several appearances from the all too fabulous Dana Jolly Dancers. 

Gleeson then sets the high standard of vocals to come, soaring through Jekyll and Hyde standard “This Is the Moment.” Gleeson’s performances here make it abundantly clear that it is far too long since he has been seen on the musical theatre stage. He delights with “The Rainbow Connection,” later breathing fresh life into evergreen classic “My Way.” With more than 10 years of life and family experience since the Australian tour of Les Misérables, Gleeson breaks hearts and raises the roof with his impression rendition of ‘Bring Him Home.”

Vivacious soprano Lucy Durack begins with much-loved ballad “Part of your World” from The Little Mermaid before revisiting the modern classic “Popular” from her role as Glinda in the Australian premiere season ofWicked. Durack later delivers an a gorgeous full-throated performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as well as a unique, gently modulated version of timeless classic “Over the Rainbow.” 

Australia’s long reigning leading lady of the stage, Marina Prior has enjoyed an even more prolific year than usual, wowing audiences with her Phyllis in Follies, her latest Les Miz role as Madame Thénardier in the Les Misérables the Arena Spectacular, and the title role in the Australian premiere of heartrending Broadway musical Kimberley Akimbo. Continually surprising audiences, Prior draws upon her family’s musical heritage to perform a magical “Celtic Medley,” featuring a dazzling rapid-fire set of lyrics and an exquisite a cappella section. 

Prior and Durack bring warm emotion to Chess duet “I Know Him So Well” and Durack joins Gleeson for a concert arrangement of precious Carousel duet “If I Loved You.” Fresh from her West End triumph, Prior reprises her role of Madame Thénardier with “Master of the House” joined by Gleeson, who gives possibly the most beautifully sung version of Thénardier ever heard, further enhanced by meticulously prepared expression and action. 

If there is one minor concession to the smaller stage, it is the appearance of three pairs of Dana Jolly Dancers rather than the usual four. Creatively choreographed and tightly drilled by Jolly, the sextet of Amy Browne, Claire Stubbs, Adrianna Pannuzzo, Joe Meldrum, Daniel Teasdale, and Noah Missel deliver versatility and virtuosity in spades. Styles range from jazz to waltz to swing, along with a groovy Bob Fosse tribute and a shimmering “Proud Mary” encore. 

A grand Melbourne tradition to be cherished and celebrated, the annual New Years Eve & The Day Before Gala Concerts are seen in peak form this year. Long may this tradition continue!

New Years Eve & The Day Before – Gala Concerts has two further performances at Melbourne Recital Centre on 31 December 2025. For tickets, click here.

Photos: #2, #3 Heidi Victoria Photography