There is a change of leadership at The Australia Council for the Arts, as CEO Kathy Keele steps down at the end of the year. The government’s central arts funding and advisory body distributes more than $160 million each year in funding for arts organisations and individuals, nationally.
The Goldner String Quartet is spending this week as Ensemble-in-Residence at the Oxford May Music festival. Their opening performance at the festival earned a glowing review from Andrew Clements of The Guardian who said “(their) appearances confirm them as one of the finest string quartets around today.” You can hear them perform in Sydney in late…
Nicola Benedetti’s new album on Decca Classics, Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto & Fiddle Dance Suite, features premiere recordings of two works written especially for her by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin. Set for worldwide release on July 12, Benedetti performs Violin Concerto in D with The…
The Metropolitan Orchestra’s (TMO) 2020 season includes four premiere performances by Australian composers alongside orchestral classics, while continuing to showcase exceptional Australian soloists. There will be five mainstage Met Concerts for 2020, a four-concert chamber music series in accessible and intimate venues, a Children’s Concert series with a new show written by Australian composer and…
The uber–glamourous and precociously talented soprano Danielle de Niese returns to Australia, for performances around the nation. She was interviewd by Sharon Verghis of The Australian. Following the link to her interview are links to her blogs in ‘The Huffington Post’ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/rising-opera-star-danielle–de–niese-is-set-to-stun/story-fn9n8gph-1226374852846 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle–de–niese/the-case-for-making-recor_b_1220059.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle–de–niese/baroque-coming-out-party_b_1177726.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle–de–niese/inspired-to-inspire_b_1154608.html
Six new Australian compositions have been announced as finalists for the 2016 Paul Lowin Prizes. Shortlisted for the Orchestral Prize of $25,000 are James Ledger for Golden years, a 2013 composition for violin and orchestra, Cathy Milliken’s Earth Plays, written in 2015 for mezzo-soprano and orchestra and Lachlan Skipworth for his Concerto for clarinet and orchestra written in 2014. Shortlisted…
When Synergy Percussion under its Artistic Director Timothy Constable presents Masterpieces of Time, later this August, some of the music performed will pre-date by centuries, the instruments on which it will be performed. Herr Bach, Monsieur Couperin and Mr Handel will meet the marimba, vibraphones, bells, gongs, mechanical music boxes, prepared piano and steel drums. It doesn’t make the original versions obsolete, but…