Latest news
opera update….an new name for the opera theatre
How did this get past us??! The opera theatre of the Sydney Opera House will be named in honour of Dame Joan Sutherland: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/theatre-rename-honours-la-stupenda-as-house-awaits-la-traviata-20120316-1vanu.html An update on La Traviata on Sydney Harbour: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/nervous-wait-for-opera-australia-as-weather-plays-its-part-20120328-1vyla.html
Dancing with the piano – Zubin Kanga performs in London
Pianist Zubin Kanga recently performed a programme of ‘new music’ in London. It involved ideas that brooked traditional concepts of how the instrument is played. Read more at: http://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2012/03/piano-insideout-zubin-kanga-kings-place-london/
Jonathan Lemalu learns a libretto in a new language
Grammy Award winning New Zealand born bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu (he’s sung Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni for OA in Sydney) has had to meet a new challenge – that of learning a libretto in Chinese. He talks about it in this blog. (The Grammy Award was in 2010 for Best Opera Recording Billy Budd) http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/mar/26/learning-to-sing-chinese-songs
Quotas on overseas singers: another view
Baritone Peter Coleman-Wright offers a view on the suggestion by OA artitic director Lyndon Terracini that quotas be lifted on the hiring of non-Australian singers: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/cast-operas-with-the-singers-you-have-baritone/story-fn9d2mxu-1226312053899
Casting quotas in opera
OA artistic director Lyndon Terracini believes that quotas on the hiring of non-Australian singers should be lifted. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/lyndon-terracini-blasts-prehistoric-union-opera-quota/story-e6frg8n6-1226310782416
Hot off the press…..
Get to know the major benefactor behind Opera on Sydney Harbour, Dr Haruhisa Handa: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/behind-every-good-opera-theres-a-very-generous-patron-20120323-1vpbb.html Pushing the boundaries with the upcoming ACO Underground concert on April 1st: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/underground-lovers-20120322-1vkuv.html Selby and Friends “A Ghost at the Cafe” reviewed: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/trio-harness-power-of-understatement-20120323-1vp0w.html John Shand reviews the latest release form Jordi Savall and his ensemble, featuring his wife…
Latest reviews
The King’s Singers reviewed
Music critic for the SMH, Peter McCallum reviews the recent Sydney performance by the King’s singers: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/welltailored-sound-and-gentle-parody-make-a-right-royal-treat-20120220-1tjgp.html
“A stirring and insightful musical experience” – Turandot reviewed
Among his many virtues as a composer, Giacomo Puccini was above all, a master of contrast – musical, dramatic and ultimately emotional. He combined musical genius with an incisive theatrical instinct to create operas full of thrilling grandiosity and gripping intimacy, often within minutes of each other. Nowhere is this more evident than in…