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All the world’s a stage – concert venues outside the square
Hiring major venues in Sydney is a costly exercise. Albeit the performers get a world class stage and the support services to boot. However, the budget involved is more often than not, beyond the means of smaller and emerging artistes; and the larger auditoriums are not always acoustically suited to the performers. Meeting these needs are a…
Ode to joy – the Sydney Symphony Opening Gala
A superb performance by all in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, Monday 13th February 2012. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy with soloists Lorina Gore, soprano, Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo-soprano, James Egglestone, tenor, and Michael Nagy, bass, with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. http://bigpondvideo.com/classical/422089
More on the SSO’s 80th season, the ACO reviewed and the cello breaks out……
The Sydney Symphony’s 8oth season gala continues tonight: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/symphonys-anniversary-hits-a-high-note-20120212-1szkg.html The ACO’s Chopin/Mendelssohn programme reviewed: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/capricious-performance-needs-more-melody-20120212-1szxx.html Cello-bration: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/no-more-mellow-cello-20120210-1sfbg.html
‘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
Latest reviews
Review roundup
A collection of the weekend’s reviews: Stephen Hough’s Canberra concert: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/what-a-little-bit-of-moonlight-can-do/story-e6frg8n6-1226156246934 Placido Domingo and Katherine Jenkins in Sydney: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/domingos-wondrous-voice-rises-above-arena/story-fn9d2mxu-1226156233592 http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/aptly-seduction-set-the-tenor-for-a-night-of-vocal-splendour-20111002-1l3qr.html The Vienna Philharmonic in Perth: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/old-school-orchestra-lives-up-to-its-conservative-traditions/story-fn9d2mxu-1226156272290
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…