By Sean Wilson
MUSIC
BACH
Shakespeare's Coriolanus.
During the Baroque period, few composers could get a crowd dancing like Johann Sebastian Bach. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performs two of Bach's orchestral suites, Orchestral Suite No.2 and Orchestral Suite No.3, as well as Haydn's Symphony No. 49 La Passione and Symphony No. 92 Oxford.
Today, 2pm, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, city, $40-$149, 1300 182 183, artscentremelbourne.com.au
PIANO
Acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough performs the second of two April concerts at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The recital program includes Shubert's Piano Sonata No.14, Liszt's Valse Oubliees No.1 and No.2 and Transcendental Etudes, works by Cesar Franck, and the pianist's own composition, Piano Sonata III (Trinitas).
Today, 7pm, Melbourne Recital Centre, corner Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street, Southbank, $48-$140, 9699 3333, melbournerecital.com.au
The Best of the Eagles.
TRIBUTE
Take it easy, your Eagles fix is coming in the form of The Best of The Eagles. The tribute concert production is divided into two parts. Part one celebrates 40 years since the release of Hotel California by performing the album in its entirety. Part two features the band's other hits including Take It Easy, Desperado, Tequila Sunrise and Best of My Love.
Today, 7.30pm, The Palms at Crown, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, $60, 136 100, ticketmaster.com.au
CHOIR
Historic artist colony Montsalvat is the site for an annual choral festival. Choral @ Montsalvat takes place over five hours this weekend, with 16 choirs participating in the festivities. Held in the unique buildings, the event includes performances from the Melbourne Chamber Choir and the Melbourne Women's Choir.
Tomorrow, noon, Montsalvat, 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham, $16-$36, 9439 7712, montsalvat.com.au
Red Stitch's
LIVE
THEATRE
THE RIVER
Red Stitch is producing the Australian premiere season of Jez Butterworth's play, The River. The mystery from the writer of Mojo and Jerusalem follows a nameless man who brings his new lover to a remote family cabin for romance and fishing. The season stars Ngaire Dawn Fair, Dion Mills and Christina O'Neill, and continues until May 28.
Today, 8pm, tomorrow, 6.30pm, Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Rear 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda East, $28-$45, 9533 8083, redstitch.net
BAD JEWS
Black comedy Bad Jews is back at St Kilda's Alex Theatre for a return season before travelling to Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Penned by Joshua Harmon, the play is set on the night after a funeral, and tracks cousins Daphna, Liam and Jonah as they battle over faith — and their dead grandfather's heirlooms. Season ends May 14.
Today, 3pm and 8pm, tomorrow, 5pm, Alex Theatre, 1/135 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, $50-$71, 1300 795 012, ticketek.com.au
CORIOLANUS
Shakespeare's Coriolanus gets an all-female cast in Heartstring Theatre's production of the tragedy. The dangerous politics of Rome sets warrior Coriolanus on a path to destruction, as she agitates with powerful leaders on both sides of an ancient conflict between Rome and the Volsci. Ends May 8.
Today, 8pm, tomorrow, 5pm, Metanoia Theatre, Mechanics Institute, 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick, $25-$30, metanoiatheatre.com
, presented by Ross Mueller.
I CAN'T EVEN
Playwright and columnist Ross Mueller presents a fictional political speech in his latest work. Presented in the lead-up to the Federal election, I Can't Even explores the state of the country and the election conversations we're neglecting. Final performances this weekend.
Today, 8pm, tomorrow, 5.30pm, The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, $25-$40, 9685 5111, malthousetheatre.com.au
FOOD
TRUCKS
Street food returns to High Street in Prahran as Mt Erica Hotel hosts another instalment of its food truck festival. A handful of food trucks pull up the hand brake in the hotel's car park to serve meals, while patrons enjoy entertainment from live bands. Drinks can be purchased from the bar at the recently renovated venue. Trucks this weekend include Toasta, Smoking Barry's BBQ, Ghost Kitchen and It's all about donuts.
Tomorrow, 3pm, Mt Erica Hotel, 420 High Street, Prahran, free entry, mterica.com.au
CLASS
Three of Australia's top chefs gather for the autumn masterclass at Lake House in Daylesford. Mitch Orr (Acme, Sydney), Scott Pickett (Estelle and St Crispin, Melbourne) and Ross Lusted (The Bridge Room, Sydney) arrive for a day of demonstrations and foodie discussion. Hosted by Lake House's Alla Wolf-Tasker, the masterclass features recipes, tastings, tea, coffee, a baguette lunch and wine.
Tomorrow, 10am-4pm, Lake House, King Street, Daylesford, $265, 5348 3329, lakehouse.com.au
SOCIAL
Dine and help young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds gain valuable experience as part of the Scarf dinners at Collingwood eatery Rupert on Rupert. Social enterprise Scarf helps to teach, mentor and employ the young front-of-house trainees, while head chef Megan Morgan prepares a menu that includes golden hock balls with smoked ham, taleggio and burnt onion aioli, and slow braised lamb shoulder. The dinners continue on Tuesdays until June 7.
May 3, 6pm, Rupert on Rupert, 73 Rupert Street, Collingwood, $40, 9419 7702, scarfcommunity.org
ELSEWHERE
MARKET
CITY
Help traders unpack at the latest Suitcase Rummage meet. The market has a trademark feature: stallholders stuff their suitcases with vintage clothes, bric-a-brac, books, jewellery, records, shoes, artworks, and anything else that can fit, to sell to visitors. It's a treasure market without the hassles of trestle tables and awkward car boots.
Tomorrow, 11am-4pm, The Atrium, Federation Square, Flinders Street, city, free entry, suitcaserummage.com.au
SWAN HILL
Kingfisher Brand from Boundary Bend will be at the Swan Hill Farmers Market. Kingfisher Brand grows citrus, pumpkins, avocado, garlic and onions, and their market stall also features fresh juice squeezed on the spot. Rod Fruit from Lake Boga sells stone fruit, grapes, sweet corn, zucchinis, cucumber and pumpkin, and 12 Good Eggs bring their premium paddock eggs laid by chooks that spend the day roaming the country grounds.
Tomorrow, 8am-noon, Riverside Park, Monash Avenue, Swan Hill, free entry, vfma.org.au
OUT OF TOWN
MOUNT BEAUTY
Travel to the foothills of Mount Bogong for the annual Mount Beauty Music Festival. Held in venues around the picturesque town, the festival features 45 Australian and international artists, including the Suzannah Espie Band, Shaun Kirk, Buckman Coe and The April Maze. Children aged 12 years and under enter for free with an adult pass holder.
Today and tomorrow, various times and venues, Mount Beauty, free-$115, musicfestival.org.au
GRAMPIANS
Indulge in some godly nectar in the Grampians this weekend. The Grampians Grape Escape brings wine lovers and foodies together at the base of Mount William in the Grampians National Park for a weekend of cooking demonstrations, wine appreciation panels, master classes and produce from western Victoria's best wine and food makers. The entertainment program includes Kate Ceberano and chef Miguel Maestre.
Today, 10am-6pm, tomorrow, 9am-4pm, Halls Gap Recreation Reserve, Grampians National Park, corner Mount Victory and Grampians Roads, Halls Gap, $30-$99, grampiansgrapeescape.com.au
EXPO
Pat your way through more than 500 dogs of various breeds at the Dog Lovers Show. Held in the Royal Exhibition Building, the annual show features exhibitors, advice, dog shows, and dogs of all shapes and sizes on display. There's also a celebrity stage featuring vets and dog behaviour experts, including Dr. Chris Brown and Dr. Harry Cooper. Children under five enter for free, but leave the furry kids at home – visitors' dogs are not allowed.
Today and tomorrow, 9.30am-5pm, Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, $12-$30, dogloversshow.com.au
MSO Education Week.
FAMILY
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra tune into younger music lovers with their MSO Education Week series. The series introduces classical music to listeners of all ages, with several events designed to engage children. The week begins on Tuesday with An Adventurer's Guide to the Orchestra, which has a program that includes the Star Wars theme and excerpts from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, performed by a large-scale orchestra.
May 3-7, various venues and prices, mso.com.au