Concert Review: Clouds of Gold/Choir of St James’/ BachBand@StJames’
In a program that celebrates hope and renewal, the Choir of St James presented music that ascends the heights from through a wide range of choral music from the 1500s to the current day in this superbly curated concert.
Concert Review: Van Diemen’s Band/ Musica Viva
An enjoyable evening of music which highlighted the often overlooked complexity and variety of the early and middle Baroque eras, well played by an ensemble with a clear affinity for and enjoyment of the repertoire.
Album Review: Tango de Saxos / Nexas Quartet
In its CD Tango de Saxos, the four outstanding saxophonists of Nexas Quartet demonstrate their intimate knowledge of tango style, and know what works for their combination of instruments.
Concert Review: An American In Paris
An American in Paris has opened its Sydney season and it’s an intoxicating hit. Who could ask for anything more?!
Concert Review: Haydn’s Creation/Australian Haydn Ensemble
The Australian Haydn Ensemble celebrated its tenth anniversary with a with a resplendent performance of Josef Haydn’s 1798 hero oratorio, The Creation, in collaboration with exceptional vocal soloists, an augmented ensemble of period and replica instruments and the Sydney Chamber Choir, all under the direction of Roland Peelman.
Concert Review: Indie Ditties/ Hao
Hao rose to every challenge spectacularly, acquitting the cycle with panache and tenderness where appropriate; he made an excellent first case for Vines’ Indie Ditties, which should by most metrics be destined for a well-deserved place in the Australian piano canon.
Album Review: Liquid Crystal/ Carbon And Raineri
Carbon and Raineri explore these pieces from the Romantic to the Modern, showcasing both traditional and newer aesthetics along with the rich tapestry of colours, tones phrasing and dynamics intrinsic to both the clarinet and the piano.
Concert Review: Australian Haydn Ensemble/Mozart Viennese Star
The sound was beautifully blended in the ensemble moments and carefully balanced in the solo passages. The Australian Haydn Ensemble a cornerstone of keeping alive the incomparable music and the elements of the Classical era.
Opera Review: Turandot/ Opera Australia
Something momentous happened on the opera stage this week. It was the debut in a major role, in Sydney, on the stage of the Opera House, of soprano Anna-Louise Cole, who sang the role of Turandot in Opera Australia’s eponymous production.