Our cup Runnicled over

A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more

Plenty to love in Mendelssohn and Bruckner

A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more

A night of musique française

Although all three of last night’s SSO composers were French, they presented clearly contrasting works, with not a whiff of impressionism from any. Read more

Something to please everybody: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

After a thorough Sibelius soaking from the previous Emirates Master Series concert, it was refreshing to return to the more familiar variety of Glinka, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky for last night’s SSO concert. Read more

Gustav made a great double with Camille

A SSO review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more

My take on music reviewing

While the 2024 SSO concert season looks to be pretty exciting, there is not much public scraping, plucking, blowing and walloping until February. Read more

A concert not to be missed: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Although there were three omissions from last night’s Emirates Master Series SSO concert, they didn’t detract from an outstanding event. Read more

Take it away Ludwig!

A music review by Fraser McBeath McEwing Read more

The new, the unfamiliar and the old friend

A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more

A mass that pleased the masses

For Mozart fans, last night’s concert by the SSO was a welcome and balanced blend of the master’s work. Read more

A blend of the familiar, the unfamiliar and the new: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Having Wolfgang in your name would seem to direct your destiny towards musical composition. It certainly did with Erich Wolfgang Korngold, (1897 – 1957)  whose only symphony was played by the SSO last night. Read more

This middlebrow concert was a sheer delight – a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

While my reviews usually concentrate on the Emirates Master Series because that’s supposed to attract the most musically sophisticated crowd, last night’s SSO program of the Rach 2 and a Respighi tone poem was a delicious diversion. Read more

Music that imposed itself: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Turley’s Mirage, Elgar’s cello concerto and Shostakovich’s 10^th symphony provided a rich blend of styles at the Opera House last night. Read more

A concert of colour: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Young’s reflected lights, Saint-Saens’ kaleidoscopic second piano concerto and Mussorgsky’s art gallery stroll, resulted in a visually provocative program last night from the SSO under the baton of 39-year-old Estonian Mihhail Gerts. Read more

Taking on the Russian Titans: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Twenty-six-year-old Albanian-born pianist Marie-Ange Nguci might well have bounded onto the Recital Hall stage wearing boxing gear last night because there was no way she could avoid stepping into the ring with four heavy-weight Russian composers all threatening to knock her out. Read more

One blockbuster and two oddments: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

There is no doubt that the SSO wanted to please Mahler fans with last night’s opening Emirates concert of the season. Read more

Andrew had nowhere to sit, so he stood up and played: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

When Andrew Haveron walked on stage at the Sydney Opera House concert hall last night carrying his violin, his usual chair was occupied by associate concertmaster Harry Bennetts. Read more

A beauty and two beasts: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Under the baton of Simone Young, the SSO turned in a stirring performance last night from the two big Bs: Brahms’ first symphony and Beethoven’s violin concerto with soloist James Ehnes. Read more

Beethoven and Schumann favourites: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Every so often, Australian international pianist and teacher Sarah Grunstein forsakes New York to visit to her original home, Sydney and gives a recital in the Opera House’s Utzon Room. Read more

Wall to wall Richard Strauss: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Before I go into raptures about the sound of the Australian World Orchestra and the remarkable coup to entice virtually-retired Zubin Mehta to conduct it again, I have to question the choice of an all-Richard Strauss program. Read more

Two thirds and one Dean: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Albert Einstein is credited as saying: ‘Before Beethoven, music was written for the immediate. With Beethoven, you start writing music for eternity.’ Read more

The Opera House bares all with Mahler: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

There was more than music to celebrate the return of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to the Sydney Opera House concert hall last night. Read more

Some familiar, some  unfamiliar: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

They were presented in equal quantities at last night’s concert. Read more

Two mighty trees and a sapling: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Two mighty trees and a sapling: that summarised the SSO’s program last night in the Sydney Town Hall. Read more

Friday morning with Richard, Wolfgang, Carl and Felix

A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing  Read more

Mozart, Haydn and Schubert according to Umberto Clerici: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

The SSO hit the popularity bullseye last night with symphonies by Mozart and Schubert along with Haydn’s trumpet concerto. Read more

Clerici was going to swap his bow for a baton: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing of a phantom concert

Covid wiped out tonight’s concert, much to my disappointment. Read more

Big blasts from Beethoven and Brahms: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

In last night’s Sydney Town Hall concert, Brahms was ranked above Beethoven – when the SSO performed Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C major, Op. 56, before intermission, with Brahms Symphony No. 3 in F Major in prime-time after. Read more

Vox out of the box: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs could hardly have offered a more popular choral work than Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana as the centrepiece of their concert in the Sydney Town Hall yesterday. Read more

Lots of luscious Ludwig: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

The lure of familiar Beethoven was probably enough to virtually covid-fill the Town Hall last night, but for those with more contemporary tastes, there were a couple of works for their corner too. Read more

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