Melbourne string quartet The Crossing Machine will be joined by pop vocalist Jordan Z to perform The Juliet Letters, a genre-defying song cycle created by Elvis Costello in collaboration with The Brodsky Quartet, at fortyfivedownstairs on Friday 1 May 2026.
The Juliet Letters, originally released in 1993, is a sequence of letters written to Shakespeare’s Juliet, revealing a gallery of fractured lives, longing, regret, and dark wit.
The Crossing Machine Violinist Marianne Rothschild began working on this project and The Crossing Machine has been breathing new life into the work, approaching it with deep respect for the score while bringing a distinctly contemporary energy and emotional clarity.
“The Crossing Machine felt that The Juliet Letters, that has been performed by many orchestras and ensembles since its release by Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet in 1993, was due for a new perspective more than a quarter of a century later, with a particularly worthy voice for this project,” said Marianne Rothschild.
“Jordan Z lights up the words in a way that has not been heard before and listeners have the chance to hear this iconic work afresh.”
The quartet, Marianne Rothschild (violin), Matthew Rigby (violin), Margaret Butcher (viola) and Charlotte Jacke (cello), is currently in the final stages of an exciting new album release and this performance at fortyfivedownstairs forms part of a small number of anticipated launch concerts they have planned for 2026.
It’s a work the quartet have been immersed in since 2018 with various vocalists, and since collaborating with Jordan from 2024, the work has now been fully recorded and is due to be released later this year.
“The Juliet Letters captivated him with its seamless blend of classical influence and contemporary pop sensibility,” said Jordan Z.
The Crossing Machine is a well-established Melbourne String Quartet who has stunned audiences in both classical, jazz, pop and rock settings. They have a passion for performing living classical composers so they can help shape new works and work closely with composers.
The Crossing Machine have performed with the greats such as Alice Cooper, Roger Daltrey, Jimmy Barnes, Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Delta Goodrem and Anthony Callea and many more.
The Juliet Letters
fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Performance: Friday 1 May 2026
Bookings: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com
For more information, visit: www.thecrossingmachine.com.au for details.
Image: Margaret Butcher, Charlotte Jacke, Jordan Z, Matthew Rigby and Marianne Rothschild (supplied)