Latest news
Conductor avoids the currents
Brian Castles – Onion will conduct the upcoming productions of La Traviata on the harbour. He talks to Steve Meacham of the Sydney Morning Herald about keeping his head above the water – metaphorically speaking: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-pit-20120318-1vdo2.html
Happy Birthday to the coathanger
The Sydney Harbour Bridge turns 80 today! Eleven musicians from the brass section of the Sydney Symphony scaled the bridge to perform from the top. Guess what they played?! Check out these features: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/featurenews/view/1189848/1/.html http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/13205823/sydney-harbour-bridge-turns-80/
Seeing is believing……
The La Traviata chandelier arrives! Images by James Morgan courtsey of Opera Australia
Hot off the press….
The new look Australian String Quartet’s Sydney concert reviewed: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/spirits-high-as-new-lineup-gels-with-old-guard-20120316-1va8v.html The Guardian’s Tom Service asks if Stephen Sondheim might be our greatest composer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2012/mar/16/sondheim-sweeney-todd-music-theatre
Hot off today’s press –
Review In Search of Haydn screening at the Hayden Orpheum and Roseville cinemas: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/in-search-of-haydn-20120314-1v39p.html John Bell talks about the competition for opera from HD cinema productions: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/bell-gives-stravinsky-a-rakeover-20120315-1v82g.html and read Peter McCallum’s review of The Song Company’s Love in Venice http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/irresistible-allure-of-sensuality-with-a-light-original-approach-20120315-1v82u.html
operaquatics – a preview of Handa opera on the harbour’s production of La Traviata
We’re watching the surrounds of Sydney harbour for signs of the mega-outdoor staging of La Traviata. A preview of the preparations from Steve Meacham of the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/about-town/sopranos-stagecraft-and-synoptic-charts-20120308-1ul84.html
Latest reviews
Mahler2/SSO:’A thrilling valediction’
Peter McCallum reviews the opening night performance of Mahler’s Symphony No 2 ‘Resurrection’ by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with soprano Emma Matthews, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and the Sydney Philhamonia Choirs, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/a-rich-and-brooding-farewell-to-majestic-mahler-odyssey-20111124-1nwtb.html The performance is repeated on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Monday 28th November, with a live broadcast on ABC Classic…
‘First Stones’ reviewed
Check out this review of nine new works presented by Halcyon: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/take-nine-composers-and-hear-how-magic-is-made-20111120-1np4b.html