Latest news
Sir Simon Rattle on ten years with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Ten years after Sir Simon Rattle began his tenure with the Berlin Philharmonic, he speaks to Ivan Hewitt of The Telegraph about the last decade …and that unforgettable moment when he shared the stage with the infamous Mr Bean. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/proms/9492893/Simon-Rattle-interview-of-course-the-orchestra-is-stroppy.html
ACO 2013 season announced
The Australian Chamber Orchestra has just announced its 2013 season. Andreas Scholl sings Vivaldi, Barry Humphries presents music from Berlin, Martin Fröst plays Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Patricia Kopatchinskaja guest directs from the violin. There’s music by Brahms, Brett Dean, Ginastera and Rautavaara in the mix. More at: http://www.aco.com.au/buy/subscriptions?utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Announcing2013season
Ticket giveaway to Selby and friends
Selby and Friends present A Feast of Rarities featuring quartets by Mozart, Dvorak, Mahler and Stanhope. They are offering two double passes to each of their concerts in Turramurra (Sunday Sept 2nd 2 pm) and the City Recital Hall (Tuesday 4th September at 7pm) to readers of SoundsLikeSydney. If you’d like to be in the running…
Australia out of tune(rs)
Some weeks ago we posted the link to a feature in the New York Times bout the destruction of pianos that no-one wanted to keep or maintain. Now the Sydney Morning Herald reports on a rapidly diminishing skill base of piano tuners. http://www.smh.com.au/national/scaled-back-dying-skill-a-note-of-concern-for-pianists-20120824-24rxj.html
Spectrum: creative collaboration realised
London based pianist Zubin Kanga presented his recital Spectrum to an admiring and dedicated audience at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney recently. I was fortunate to speak with Zubin Kanga after the concert to reflect on its content and creation – a process substantially more enlightening than a preview or critique. Kanga performed 7 works…
Opera Australia launches into 2013
The anticipation was palpable as Opera Australia announced its 2013 season in the opera theatre of the Sydney Opera House today. Glittering in more ways than one, Taryn Fiebig and the ensemble whetted appetites with a larger than life rendition of Quando m’en vo from the video of the 2010 production of La Boheme, projected onto…
Latest reviews
A truly dazzling virtuoso – the keyed trumpet premieres in Sydney
Gabriele Cassone playing the keyed trumpet with The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, directed from the fortepiano by Paul Dyer, truly brought to life the title of the present series Dazzling Virtuoso with a breathtaking performance. A deliberate choice of adjective. The keyed trumpet, an instrument of the 18th century sits between the Baroque and the newer valved instruments, representing…
Aida reviewed
Opera Australia’s production of Verdi’s Aida, conducted by Arvo Volmer and directed and choreographed by Graeme Murphy has opened in Sydney. Peter McCallum reviews it for the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/murphys-grand-design-a-triumph-in-a-tight-space-20120718-22alj.html