Latest news
conducting matters
This feature from npr asks whether good orchestras really need conductors. If you were at the Sydney Symphony’s opening night of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pique Dame’ on Saturday, the answer would be quite obvious. A scientist at the University of Maryland has tried to define the relationship between musicians and their conductor: Click here to read
Stuart Skelton interview
Listen again to Margaret Throsby talking to Stuart Skelton in an interview first broadcast on ABC Classic FM Thursday November 29th. Click here
Sumi Jo interview
How did we miss this one? Sumi Jo speaks to Julieanne Strachan of the Sydney Morning Herald during her recent trip to Australia. Better late than never: Click here to read.
Pappano and La Stupenda
Antonio Pappano, the present Music Director of the Royal Opera at Covent Garden worked closely with Dame Joan Sutherland during his early career as a prompt. Though born in Britain, his Italian parentage gave him a special advantage with singers: Peter Wilson writes from Europe for The Australian: Click here to read.
Starry nights for Pinchgut – twin talk with Castor and Pollux
It was like trying to keep up with two fine young colts let loose to play after training. Jeffrey Thomson and Hadleigh Adams are in Sydney to sing the twin male leads in Jean-Phillipe Rameau’s Castor and Pollux, which is to hit the boards at the City Rectal Hall under the auspices of Pinchgut Opera,…
‘Queen of Spades’ shows her hand
Miriam Cosic previews the Sydney Symphony’s staged production of Tchaikovsky’s mammoth opera: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/gamblers-tale-makes-for-another-sure-bet/story-e6frg8n6-1226526044660
Latest reviews
Simply beautiful: ‘North + South’ from Jane Sheldon, CD review
Soprano Jane Sheldon is a well respected and popular exponent of two broad styles of music at opposite ends of the timeline – Baroque and early music and, ‘New’ music. Her latest venture a CD with the title North + South (Phosphor Records PR 0001), released earlier this month, demonstrates her mastery of yet another style. North + South is a…
‘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….