Concert Review: It Takes Two/ The Marais Project
The Marais Project: Jennifer Eriksson (director and viola da gamba), Belinda Montgomery (soprano), Tommie Andersson (lutes) Elysian Fields: Matt Keegan (saxophones), Matt McMahon (piano), Jennifer Eriksson (electric viola da gamba), Siebe Pogson (bass), Finn Ryan (percussion) 29 January, The Independent Theatre, North Sydney Jennifer Eriksson continually seeks to provide new perspectives on old music…
Opera Review: Król Roger (King Roger) / Opera Australia
Król Roger (King Roger) – Karol Szymanowski Opera Australia, Joan Sutherland Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House 20 January 2017 Opera Australia’s second new production in the 2017 summer season is Król Roger (King Roger) by the early 20th century Polish composer Karol Szymanowski. The work is rarely performed outside Poland and this co-production with…
Opera Review: Cavalleria Rusticana And Pagliacci / Opera Australia
Cavalleria Rusticana – Pietro Mascagni; Pagliacci – Ruggero Leoncavallo Opera Australia, Joan Sutherland Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 12 January 2017 Opera Australia has continued its summer season with a new production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, following its customary New Year performances of La Bohème. This double bill is a joint enterprise with the…
Album Review: Brahms – Tones of Romantic Extravagance/ Ironwood
Ironwood, the Australian period instrument specialist ensemble has released a sumptuous new double album Brahms – Tones of Romantic Extravagance (ABC Classics), featuring two of Brahms’ major chamber works, the Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor opus 25 on disc one, and the Piano Quintet in F minor opus 34 on disc two. The…
Album Review: The Christmas Album/ Berlin Philharmonic
Christmas in Germany – Stollen, drifts of snow, centuries old Christmas markets, gluhwein, children busking singing ancient carols in glorious descants and the ubiquitous brass bands in the town squares. It is a time like no other and recreating this atmosphere is the compilation release The Christmas Album from the Berlin Philharmonic and Deutsche Grammophon,…
Album Review: Wonderland/Alice Sara Ott
Grieg’s virtuosic Piano Concerto in A minor has languished in recent years and its inclusion on the new album release Wonderland from Deutsche Grammophon, by the 28-year-old German pianist Alice Sara Ott represents a welcome return. Ott combines this all-Grieg anthology with a selection of Grieg’s Lyric Pieces and selections from Peer Gynt for solo…
Album Review: Omega Ensemble: Mozart/ Munro/ Palmer
The Sydney based Omega Ensemble has come of age with its debut album Mozart-Munro-Palmer (ABC Classics 481 4667) that gathers a triptych of works for clarinet and chamber ensemble. The album features Artistic Director David Rowden, who founded the ensemble in 2005, as the clarinet soloist anchoring the tracks with the matchless Clarinet Quintet in…
Album Review: Nemanja Radulović BACH
It’s hugely gratifying to be able to spend the best part of an hour immersed in the music of a single composer performed expertly with a fresh and considered twist. Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović’s new release on Deutsche Grammophon (479 5933) entitled Bach is just that. Six works by Johann Sebastian Bach with a concerto for…
Concert Review: Tristan and Isolde/ Stemme/ Skelton/ Bohinec/ Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/ Letonja
Tristan and Isolde – Nina Stemme soprano, Stuart Skelton tenor, Monica Bohinec mezzo-soprano, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marko Letonja Federation Hall, Hobart November 19, 2016 Written by Deborah Humble The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has excelled in a dramatically astounding performance of Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde. Take the scenery, costumes and action away from drama…