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Philippe Jaroussky – staying humble and staying fresh

French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky admits to a little apprehension about taking to the stage with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra this evening, on the opening night of an 8 concert tour to Sydney and Melbourne. An unusual admission for so seasoned a performer. Yet, it takes a rare strength and assuredness to admit to such  vulnerability. Jaroussky…
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‘Carmen’: Handa Opera on Sydney harbour – Rinat Shaham’s insights

In an overnight transformation, mezzo-soprano Milijana Nikolic has shed several decades from her persona and gone from singing the role of one doomed gypsy to another. The day after the closing performance of Il Trovatore, in which she portrayed Azucena, she was rehearsing the role of Carmen which she will sing in Handa Opera on…
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Philippe Jaroussky in Sydney

Philippe Jaroussky is in Sydney to start rehearsals with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in preparation for six Sydney and two Melbourne concerts. He’ll be chatting live on Twitter Thursday 7 March, 2013 from 11am (EST), using hashtags #baROCKstar and #brandies SBS TV will also screen the documentary Philippe Jaroussky: A High Pitched Portrait on SBS ONE at 2pm on Saturday 16…
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‘Alleluia’ – 4 motets on disc from Julia Lezhneva and Il Giardino Armonico

Russian soprano Julia Lezhneva releases her 4th CD Alleluia this week. It is named after the final movement of Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate K165, which is the last of 4 motets on the recording, the others being by Vivaldi (In furore iustissimae irae, RV626), Handel (Saeviat Tellus Inter Rigores, HWV240) and Porpora (In caelo stele clare fulgescant).  The…
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Latest reviews

‘Queen’s’ winning hand reviewed

Saturday night was the first ot two performances by the Sydney Symphony of a concert version of Tchaikowsky’s Queen of Spades. Not performed in Sydney since 1979 it is a rare opportunity to hear this masterpiece, and the out-of -this-world soloists who have gathered in Sydney to sing with the orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy….

‘The Lighthouse’ reviewed

Sydney Chamber Opera recently presented a superb production of The Lighthouse by Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies, highy commended by those who saw it. Peter McCallum reviews it for the Sydney Morning Herald: Click here to read.