More than 120 artists and musicians gathered at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena for an ambitious and deeply felt celebration of one of Australia’s most enduring performers.

Few Australian singers have a catalogue as deeply embedded in the national consciousness as John Farnham. At Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night, many of the country’s best-known performers gathered to explore that legacy in The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend, a sweeping celebration filled with soaring voices, spectacular arrangements and genuine affection.

Produced by Cochrane Entertainment and TEG Dainty, the concert brought together more than 120 artists and musicians. The scale was considerable, encompassing the John Farnham Band, a 38-piece orchestra, choirs, a drumline and, for the finale, 24 pipers. The event was also streamed live into HOYTS cinemas around Australia.

Under the musical direction of Farnham’s longtime collaborator Chong Lim AM, the concert avoided feeling like a procession of disconnected covers. Lim’s arrangements retained the spirit of the original recordings while allowing each guest to bring something distinctive to the material.

A nine-minute opening sequence built around “Age of Reason” immediately established the evening’s sense of occasion, with Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Jack Jones, Mahalia Barnes and Human Nature sharing the stage with the Australian Girls Choir.

From there, the program moved through different periods of Farnham’s career. Jimmy Barnes and Mahalia Barnes tackled “When the War Is Over” (which John performed with LRB after Cold Chisel’s Steve Prestwich joined the band), Keith Urban performed “Burn for You” accompanied by Lim on piano, and Richard Marx took on “Pressure Down”. Tina Arena joined Jack Jones for “Angels”, while Vanessa Amorosi and Stevens brought suitable firepower to “That’s Freedom”.

The broad range of performers demonstrated both the versatility of Farnham’s catalogue and the reach of his influence. Kate Ceberano, Diesel, Ross Wilson, Jessica Mauboy, Human Nature, Dannielle Gaha, Mark Vincent, Mitch Tambo and Hans were among those interpreting songs that have become part of Australia’s shared musical history.

Remote appearances from Chris Martin, Celine Dion and Hugh Jackman expanded the celebration beyond the arena. Martin performed the humorous “Better Singer Than Me”, Dion contributed to “You’re the Voice”, and Jackman appeared for “Talk of the Town”.

For all the production’s scale, its most affecting moment may also have been its most personal. Farnham’s son Rob performed “Love to Shine”, bringing an added emotional weight to an evening devoted not only to the music, but to the man behind it.

Farnham’s presence could be felt throughout the concert, even as his songs were placed in the hands of others. The strongest performances did not attempt to imitate his unmistakable voice. Instead, they revealed the durability of the writing and the emotional connection generations of Australians have formed with it.

The finale delivered the communal release the evening had been building towards. After the assembled artists powered through AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)”, Mitch Tambo led the company into “You’re the Voice”, joined by didgeridoo, choir and 24 pipers. It was an appropriately monumental conclusion, transforming Farnham’s signature song into a collective expression of admiration.

The concert also supported Head and Neck Cancer Australia and its $1 million Lend Your Voice fundraising appeal, reflecting Farnham’s own experience with the disease and giving the celebration a purpose beyond the stage.

At its heart, The Songs of John Farnham was an expression of gratitude. It celebrated a remarkable body of work, but it also acknowledged something larger: the place Farnham and his music continue to occupy in Australian life. For one night at Rod Laver Arena, an extraordinary collection of performers came together to say thank you.