Latest news
‘Boarding now’ – The Sydney Children’s Choir leaves for ‘Summer in Europe’
The homes of singers in the Sydney Children’s Choir will be uncharacteristically quiet over the school holidays as the choir heads to Europe on tour this northern summer. Sydney airport will be ringing with the excitement of 41 children aged between 11 and 15 as they board their aircraft for the long journey that will tkae them to performances at…
The power of Tosca – Christian Badea talks about his lifelong friendship with the Roman woman
Christian Badea chuckles as he confesses that he has known Tosca all his life. The Romanian born US based conductor is in Sydney again for Opera Australia, rehearsing John Bell’s production of the Puccini opera which opens here in early July. Just last year, the graduate of the Juilliard School, Grammy Award winning conductor and past- director…
Carolyn Watson wins the 2013 Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors.
Congratulations to conductor Carolyn Watson who has won the annual 2013 Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors under the auspices of the Helpmann Awards. As the winner of the award, Carolyn Watson receives an $8000 prize. The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust was launched in 1997 on the first anniversary of the death of Brian Stacey. The Trust Fund in his name…
Helpmann Award nominees 2013
Congratulations to all the nominees for the 2013 Helpmann Awards! Now in its 13th year, there were 822 entries across 41 categories received. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said “The Helpmanns are the premier awards event for the live performance industry. Our investment in the 2013 Helpmann Awards and the staging…
Hyeseoung Kwon spreads her wings as ‘Butterfly’
Hyeseoung Kwon as Fiordiligi. Image Jeff Busby Terrific news from soprano Hyeseoung Kwon who has announced that she will be singing the role of Cio-Cio San in the Raymond Gubbay production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall in early 2015. Hyeseoung Kwon covered the role for Opera Australia in 2012 and she…
‘The Three of Us’- Jacqui Dark, Kanen Breen and Alexander
Jacqui Dark and Kanen Breen are two of the most popular opera starts with Opera Australia. Behind the scenes they are firm friends and together bring up 1 year Alexander. This is a no holds barred story which is touching as well as ridiculously funny and barefacedly honest. “He offered to co-parent; I didn’t have…
Latest reviews
Concert Review 1: Britten’s ‘War Requiem’/Sydney Symphony/Ashkenazy
As we acknowledge Remembrance Day today, this month we pay special attention to the birth centenary of Benjamin Britten which falls on November 22nd. All year there have been performances of his music around the world. This weekend especially, the two anniversaries were remembered with performances of his War Requiem in many cities. Read Peter McCallum’s review in the…
Concert review: ‘Seaven Teares’ – Dowland’s Delightful Birthday Bash
Dowland in the 21st Century 10 November 2013 During 2013 the musical world has been focusing on the bicentenaries of Verdi and Wagner with some attention also being given to the Benjamin Britten centenary. Not much notice has been taken, however, of the birth 450 years ago of the English lutenist and songwriter John Dowland. …