Latest news
‘Love, class and politics’ – The Marriage of Figaro
The Australian’s Matthew Westwood previews Opera Australia’s current new production of The Marriage of Figaro: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/marriage-guidance-for-mozart-after-cold-feet/story-fn9d2mxu-1226263183013 At the Sydney Opera House till March 24th.
And then there were nine….
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra prepares to open its 2012 season with four performances of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony over the coming week. Check out this witty Q and A with Philip Glass from the UK Guardian on the curse of composing a Ninth Symphony. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/feb/05/pass-notes-ninth-symphony
English National Opera creates the Charles Mackerras Fellowship
The legacy of Sir Charles Mackerras will be honoured in a new award created by the English National Opera, of which Sir Charles was director from 1970-1977. The first recipient is to be announced in April 2012. More at: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/eno-announces-the-charles-mackerras-fellowship
Chamber music – 2012 in Sydney
Chamber music is the focus in the continuing overview of Sydney’s 2012 concert agenda. Australia’s flagship chamber ensemble, the Australian Chamber Orchestra continues its innovative and classy programming performing classics as well as thinking outside the square. They’re bringing to Sydney guests artists whom one would otherwise need to travel the world to hear. Chief amongst these…
Opera – 2012 in Sydney
As the summer holidays end and the Sydney Festival wraps up, Sydneysiders contemplate the start of a wealth of subscription series. Despite the struggle to survive and intense competition for audiences and sponsorship, performing arts companies will offer Sydneysiders numerous opportunities for their delectation, ranging from rare one-offs, through to the equivalent of an evening with…
Vale Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt, Dutch harpsichordist, organist and a world authority on early music, has died after ill health caused him to retire from public performance just last month. http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/harpsichordist-and-conductor-gustav-leonhardt-has-died
Latest reviews
Macheath leaves town as Don Giovanni comes to stay
As one lothario’s time in Sydney comes to an end, another moves in. The Sydney Theatre company’s production of the Brecht/Weill Threepenny Opera closed over the weekend as Opera Australia’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni opened. In many ways the two men, Macheath and Don Giovanni are similar. Murderers, rapists and, unscrupulous seducers whose evil is made…
Reviews from the weekend – Don Giovanni and Evgeny Kissin
Opera Australia’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni opened in Sydney on Saturday night: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/by-cad-this-don-has-really-got-what-it-takes-20110925-1krlu.html Evgeny Kissin with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenzy: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/princely-splendour-of-a-master-of-sound-and-articulation-20110923-1kpa1.html