Latest news

Changing strings – the TSQ disbands and the ASQ is reviewed

As the Tokyo String Quartet continues its final tour before disbanding, the Australian String Quartet gives its last concerts with violinist Anne Horton and cellist Rachel Johnston. Matthew Westwood reports in The Australian that the members of the TSQ “will hand back their instruments – two violins, a viola and cello made by Antonio Stradivari and once…
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Sydney violinist has the best of two worlds

  Kirsty Hilton has the best of two very rarefied worlds. As well as being Co-Principal 2nd violin with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, she is also a violinist and sole Australian representative with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, based in Europe and which is soon to tour to Sydney, conducted by Daniel Harding. She has been performing…
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The ASQ changes its line up

Earlier this month, it was announced that violinist Anne Horton and cellist Rachel Johnson, will leave the Adelaide based Australian String Quartet after a career of 6 years with the ensemble. The upcoming Schubert tour will be the last for the pair. Their departure follows the departures of violinist Sophie Rowell and violist Sally Boud, to…
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Alisa Weilerstein Interview: Learning music from ‘the inside’

It is a dilemma that faces any musician curating a programme for a concert or a recording – what to programme with a work that is so iconic that there is a risk of eclipsing whatever else is presented with it?  The Cello Concerto in E minor opus 85, by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) is…
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‘Torrid Nature Scenes’ from a composer with ‘a cracking style’

TORRID NATURE SCENES, is an album of chamber works from Australian composer Nicholas Vines which presents a series of musical landscapes that instill both anxiety and ebullience in the listener. Through his innovative use of woodwinds, voice, and chamber ensemble, Vines –  lauded for his “crackling style” (NewMusicBox) and called “compellingly original” (Boston Phoenix) and…
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Latest reviews

Review: Harbour City Opera’s ‘Suor Angelica’

Suor Angelica – Giacomo Puccini. Harbour City Opera, September 25th, 2013, Paddington Uniting Church. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.   Fledgling opera company Harbour City Opera presented its first complete opera this week choosing to perform Puccini’s Suor Angelica for this inaugural event. The all-female cast and the ability of the narrative and the music…

CD Review: ‘Smile’ The Idea of North

  Celebrating 20 years of stylish music making, ARIA Award winning a capella quartet The Idea of North have released Smile, their 10th album on the ABC Classics label. The blend of voice, harmony and crystalline delivery is nothing less than listeners have come to expect from this ensemble. Soprano Sally Cameron, alto Naomi Crellin, tenor Nick Begbie and bass…