“Intensity and virtuosity are the hallmarks of this orchestra”. Read the New York Times review of the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s performance with soprano Dawn Upshaw at Carnegie Hall early this week.
Benefactors, a Stradivarius and The Glide build the bottom line for the ACO:
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/rare-violin-lifts-aco-bottom-line-20120502-1xz60.html
Peggy Glanville-Hicks. There’s news of a historic event Australian music from conductor Jennifer Condon who has revived Peggy Glanville-Hicks’ forgotten opera Sappho: She says: “Greetings from Hamburg! Prior to the Australian release of the world premiere recording, Peggy Glanville-Hicks’ Sappho is being broadcast on ABC Classic FM’s Sunday Opera programme. (November 4th at 7pm) If you do…
Australia’s favourite contemporary a capella ensemble The Idea of North, last week released its twelfth album, A World of Christmas in its debut orchestral collaboration with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. On this ABC Classics release, the multiple ARIA Award winning ensemble combines its shimmering harmonies and pure tones with the rich sonic textures of the full…
The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) has returned from a triumphant debut as artists-in-residence at London’s Barbican Centre, with The Times reporting “Richard Tognetti, leading from the front in every sense, embodies everything that makes his band special” and The Guardian heaping high praise on the ensemble describing a “A performance that buzzed with exuberance and a…
Dame Nelli Melba was born on May 19th 1861. Today marks the sesquicentenaryof her birth in Melbourne. Australia Post has released a stamp to commemorate the occasion. Good enough reason to actuall post a letter, rather than send an email! On the stamp is fellow Victorian Rupert Bunny’s salon portrait of the great soprano. Did…
Craig Hassall – Opera Australia’s new CEO. Hassall has been appointed the new CEO of Opera Australia, replacing Adrian Collette who left the company at the end of last year. Craig Hassall has worked extensively with Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare, the Olympic Arts Festival for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Cove Australia and the…
The Australian Ballet has released two albums of classics long associated with Christmas, just in time for the Season. On DVD (ABC Classics 076 2973), is Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, created by David McAllister AM, the artistic director of The Australian Ballet. McAllister’s production and additional choreography are based on the original choreography by Marius Petipa. It is a…