Opera Review: Don Giovanni/ Con Opera

Don Giovanni,  Mozart /Da Ponte Sydney Conservatorium, Opera School (Cast 1) 13 October, 2018 Music Workshop Sydney Conservatorium Written by Victoria Watson Con Opera presented a true masterpiece of Viennese Classicism, the opera Don Giovanni which followed on Mozart’s success with Le Nozze di Figaro and which was premiered in Prague in 1787. It is a notoriously challenging work…

CD Review: This Moment Must Be Sung

The power of the human voice collides with words and music in the latest CD release from Halcyon This moment must be sung, (Tall Poppies) which features the chamber songs of contemporary Australian composer Andrew Schultz (b 1960). A prolific composer of instrumental and vocal music for both small and large forces, Schulz says he…

Concert Review: Behold – The Sea! / Sydney Chamber Choir

Behold – the sea! Sydney Chamber Choir  6 October, 2018 Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music The Sydney Chamber Choir looked to the 9th century in its call to celebrate maritime themes in song. Launched with the haunting solo voice of Sebastian Maury delivering the words of Psalm 130 De proundis clamavi te (Out of…

Concert Review: Joy/ Omega Ensemble

Joy – Farrenc and Beethoven Omega Ensemble, City Recital Hall, 25 September, 2018 Schubert’s exquisite-single movement trio piece known as Notturno in E flat major D 897 was the curtain raiser to Omega Ensemble’s Joy which featured as well, music by Beethoven, Louise Farrenc and Kats-Chernin. The music might have matched the twilight outside, but…

Concert Review: Sarah Grunstein/ Beethoven, Brahms And Schumann

Sarah Grunstein, Beethoven, Brahms And Schumann Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House 23, September, 2018 Based on the concept of improvisation, pianist Sarah Grunstein performed a program of 19th century masterworks in the Utzon Room of the Sydney Opera House. It was a creative pairing of two late works – Beethoven’s Sonata no 30 in E…

Concert Review: True Romantics /Australian Chamber Choir

True Romantics Australian Chamber Choir Art Gallery of NSW 16 September, 2018 Beneath the artworks of some of Australia’s greatest painters, the Melbourne based Australian Chamber Choir directed by Douglas Lawrence OAM, presented its program True Romantics, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of its Resonate concert series. Moving beyond the…

Concert Review: Mediterráneo/ Australian Brandenburg Orchestra/ Daniel Pinteño

Mediterráneo/  Australian Brandenburg Orchestra with Daniel Pinteño, violin. City Recital Hall, Sydney 5 September 2018 Written by Deen Hamaker Although the baroque music of Germany, France and Italy are frequently heard, the baroque music of Spain is still a relative rarity and there is much unheard baroque repertoire from the Spanish-speaking world, emerging every year…

Concert Review: Jazz Inspirations/ Streeton Trio

Jazz Inspirations, Streeton Trio Independent Theatre, North Sydney  26 August, 2018 Written by Paul Bennett This eclectic and very enjoyable program from the internationally acclaimed Streeton Trio nicely illustrated the broad range of influences composers employ to lend inspiration to their compositions. Billed as a program exploring the works of composers inspired by the jazz era, those…