Latest news
‘We regret to announce…..’
If you remember soprano Sumi Jo’s sudden departure from Sydney and the role of Lucia and the more recent cancellations of tours by Jessye Norman and Deborah Voigt, then you’re no stranger to the vagaries of casting in opera. Zachary Woolf of the New York Times takes a closer look: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/arts/music/karita-mattila-and-peter-gelb-on-cancellations.html?ref=music
‘Sappho’ comes to life – Part I
Part 1 of two-part interview with emerging Australian conductor Jennifer Condon. Nearly 12 months ago, 28 year old Jennifer Condon visited Sydney to garner support for a project fired by a passion that has burned in her for the best part of a decade. During her final year of school in Sydney, she heard a fragment of…
Back to the future with tenor Joseph Calleja
Lyric tenor Jospeh Calleja last week shared the stage with violinist Nicola Benedetti and Jiri Belohlavek at the Last Night of the Proms. For the Belohlavek, it was his final appearance at the Proms and as the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Calleja recently released a new CD in tribute to Mario Lanza. In a recent…
The ACO thrills at the Edinburgh Festival
The Australian Chamber Orchestra has again impressed on the international stage with its performance at the Edinburgh Festival, an achievement whose significance is swelled by the knowledge that performing at this hallowed event is strictly at the invitation of Festival Director Jonathan Mills. With Richard Tognetti directing from the violin, the concert was simulcast on BBC3 and included works…
Mario Lanza’s classics revived by Joseph Calleja
Tenor Joseph Calleja has turned his magnificent voice to recording the songs of Mario Lanza. Called Be My Love – A tribute to Mario Lanza, it’s the 4th solo CD for the 34 year old Maltese born lyric tenor. Due for release in mid-September under the Decca label, the music on the CD is inspired by the…
Tuning a piano is good for your brain
Having reported recently that an increasing number of pianos (in the US at least) are being dumped ( http://soundslikesydney.com.au/news/free-to-a-good-home-when-pianos-pass-their-use-by-date/8789.html), and that Australia is suffering a lack of piano tuners and training facilities for them, (http://soundslikesydney.com.au/news/australia-out-of-tuners/9084.html) research has proven that working and training as a piano tuner produces specific adaptations in brain function that relate to the…
Latest reviews
The Song Company’s ‘Sunken Dreams’ reviewed
Vincent Plush reviews The Song Company’s Sunken Dreams for The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/company-on-song/story-fn9d2mxu-1226444025366
‘The Reef’ reviewed
Peter McCallum reviews the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s The Reef: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/dream-dashed-by-clanging-cymbals-20120724-22n2p.html