Sunday Address

St Michael’s is a unique church in the heart of the city. Unique for its relevant, contemporary preaching that embraces and inner wellbeing as its core message.

St Michael’s is a unique church in the heart of the city. Unique for our relevant, contemporary preaching that embraces inner wellbeing as our core message. Sunday services include a mix of traditional and modern presentations. Inspirational music is an integral part of our services and most Sundays include performances from internationally renowned musicians.

St Michael’s is a place which affirms and encourages the best expression of who you are and who you can be, not only through the Sunday service but also through our commitment to counselling and psychotherapy.

We believe faith, spirituality and a meaning to life are vital ingredients for our health and wellbeing and that there is a need to get hold of a more authentic religious understanding and to express it more confidently and diversely.

Sunday services commence at 10am.
Free Entry.

Guest artist: Evgeny Chebykin (Horn)
Evgeny was educated in former Soviet republic of Moldova and later at The Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Whilst at the RAM, Evgeny won the coveted Dennis Brain Prize and had the honour of playing principal horn in Schumann’s Konzertschtuck under late great Sir Charles Mackerras. Evgeny regularly appears as guest principal with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and London Sinfonietta as well as on numerous film soundtracks including the Harry Potter series. Closer to home, he played in Melbourne run of Love Never Dies and currently can be heard from the pit of the State Theatre playing with Orchestra Victoria. Evgeny is pleased to have survived unprecedented four consecutive Ring Cycles by Wagner in the recent Melbourne season.

Music between the readings: Cherubino’s aria from The marriage of Figaro – W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) 
Composed in 1786, this much loved opera is still being performed throughout the world.  Today, this aria is heard in a version for horn and piano.

Music during the offering: Prelude from Hérodiade – Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
Written some 95 years later than Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro this opera is not nearly so well known.  However,largely through the efforts of the Australian conductor, Richard Bonynge, the operas of Massenet have undergone a huge revival in the last 30 years.  This aria is also heard in a version for horn and piano.

The Postlude: Cannonade – Claude Balbastre (1734-1799)
Claude Balbastre was one of the most famous musicians of his day.  Born in Dijon, Balbastre relocated to Paris in 1750 and befriended the composer Jean Phillipe Rameau who introduced him into Parisian musical circles.  Although active also as a harpsichordist and fortepianist, Balbastre is best remembered today as an organist.  In 2013, his best known work remains this lively Cannonade – an exuberant work which at certain points imitates cannon fire.  The title of this work could well be perceived as a play on the musical term of ‘Canon’.