Melodies of Belonging

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https://www.kingstonarts.com.au/whats-on/melodies-of-belonging

Date Reviewed: 02/05/2026

On May 2 at Kingston City Hall Moorabbin, Melodies of Belonging presented a well-curated and musically accomplished celebration of cultural diversity, featuring cross-over soprano Rada Tochalna, pianist Tamara Vasilevitsky, Melbourne favourites Stiletto Sisters, and MC Miss Chess.

From the outset, the calibre of musicianship was evident. Rada Tochalna delivered her repertoire with vocal control, clarity, and expressive warmth, bringing a sense of poise and refinement to each piece. Her international training and operatic background were apparent in the ease with which she moved between styles, while still maintaining a personable, communicative stage presence.

Pianist Tamara Vasilevitsky was a standout collaborator throughout, accompanying with precision and finesse. Her playing was responsive and assured, supporting the vocals with musical intelligence, at times bringing playfulness that lifted the energy on stage. The rapport between the two performers is evident and very engaging.

The second half, led by the Stiletto Sisters, introduced a welcome shift in colour and texture. Their blend of humour, theatricality, and tightly woven three-part harmonies supported by Violin, Accordion and Double Bass added richness to the program, moving fluidly between moments of delicacy and bursts of spirited intensity. Their interpretations of Latin, Yiddish, and Hungarian-inspired material brought character and charm, offering some of the evening’s most distinctive musical highlights.

Where the production was less successful was in its overall sense of atmosphere and connection. Despite strong individual performances, the show as a whole felt somewhat restrained in its impact, as though the energy on stage didn’t fully translate into the room. The venue setting contributed to this; while functional and accommodating, with lovely front of house service staff throughout, it didn’t quite align with the stylistic intention of the program or support the intimacy the material seemed to call for.

MC Miss Chess, elegant in a golden gown on entrance brought enthusiasm and clear effort to her role in guiding the audience through the evening, but the connection with the room remained tentative. Transitions between segments, while clearly structured, didn’t always land with the intended sense of flow, and the rapport with the audience never felt especially warm or familiar.

There is a strong artistic idea at the centre of Melodies of Belonging, and the musical execution was consistently of a high standard. However, the presentation felt as though it was slightly at odds with its own ambitions. In a more intimate, speakeasy-style environment—where proximity, atmosphere, and shared energy play a larger role—the same program may well have found a more natural rhythm and allowed its strengths to fully come to the fore.

Reviewed by Vivien Lynch