Latest news

The Piano Man

  Roger Woodward returns to Sydney in November for a series of recitals. This month, he also performs in Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney. Awards for his performances include the “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” in November 2007 and the Diapason d’Or. His life has encompassed both musical and social causes for which he has also garnered the Polish Order of…
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The inspirational power of Fischer-Dieskau

Rising opera singer and lyric baritone Raphael Hudson explains why Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau’s legacy is so central to the art of singing and expresses a very personal view of the inspirational power of this iconic role-model. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau changed the face of Lieder and Art Song. Before him, there were excellent singers who performed Lieder very well, often…
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Fischer-Dieskau’s artistic ideals

  Last week the world mourned the death of the extraordinary baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, (b 1925) who would have turned 87 on May 28th this year. Although he worked in all genres  of vocal repertoire, he made his mark in lieder. He was also the link with some of the legends of the 20th century, having…
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The Australian String Quartet aims for a family of Guadagnini instruments

The Australian String Quartet and the Ngeringa Farm Arts Foundation launch a fund to own outright the four precious Guadagnini instruments presently played by the quartet – the first and only ensemble in Australia that plays instruments crafted by the same person. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/four-fabulous-rarities-bridge-the-centuries-20120523-1z5m3.html
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IFAC Australian Singing competition – entries close this week

Entries close at 5 pm this Friday for the IFAC Australian Singing Competition which offers a substantial range of  prizes and opportunities amounting to over $215,000 in value. The competition includes the prestigious Marianne Mathy Scholarship. Past winners have gone on to careers all over the world, amongst them Paul Whelan,(bass-baritone, 1987) recently heard with the Sydney Symphony in…
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Latest reviews

Poèmes – Renee Fleming

Renee Fleming’s new CD Poèmes celebrates Gallic vocal music from Ravel’s Orientalist infused Shéhérazade, written at  the turn of the last century and Messiaen’s Poèmes pour Mi, to Deux  Sonnets de Jean Cassou and a world premiere recording of Le Temps l’horloge by living composer Henri Dutilleux. The celebrated singer comments: ” For the sheer sensual joy  of singing, no language gives…

Diana Doherty and the St Lawrence String Quartet

The SMH reviews Musica Viva’s presentation of Diana Doherty with the St Lawrence String Quartet. They perform again at the City Recital Hall on Saturday April 21st at 2 pm. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/from-weighty-adventurism-to-arcadian-perfection-20120418-1x7e6.html