“Carmen “ on Cockatoo Island. ‘Unforgettable and a must see’ says Victor Grynberg
November 28, 2022 by J-Wire
Carmen is probably the most played opera around the world. Read more
Murray Dahm speaks with Carmen’s bullfighter
November 23, 2022 by Murray Dahm
I last spoke with Daniel Sumegi before the Melbourne performances of Wagner’s Lohengrin earlier this year. Now he returns to Australia in Carmen on Cockatoo Island as Escamillo, the bull-fighter and lover of the gypsy Carmen after she has tired of ex-corporal Don Jose. Read more
The Phantom of the Opera: Alex First reviews the Melbourne production
November 15, 2022 by Alex First
Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterful work The Phantom of the Opera sizzles. Read more
A beauty and two beasts: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
November 10, 2022 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
Lunch with Umberto
November 9, 2022 by Alan Slade
A Little Lunch Music is a long-running series created by the accomplished Australian pianist Kathryn Selby in 2007. Read more
Verdi’s Attila: another masterpiece – reviewed by Victor Grynberg
November 2, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
Giuseppe Verdi, in the judgement of many, was the greatest ever composer of operas. Read more
DanceX Part II: reviewed by Alex First
October 26, 2022 by Alex First
The Australian premiere of Johan Inger’s comic, romantic dance theatre piece I New Then, set to songs by Van Morrison, is superb. Read more
Instruments of Dance (The Australian Ballet): reviewed by Alex First
September 28, 2022 by Alex First
The second line of Peter Allen’s iconic anthem, I Still Call Australia Home, contains the words “From New York to Rio and old London Town”. Read more
Beethoven and Schumann favourites: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
September 23, 2022 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
The Phantom of the Opera: a review by Victor Grynberg
September 14, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
A season virtually sold out before opening night was a definite indication that the local audience was expecting something special from the first Sydney Opera House staging of this mega-hit. Read more
Wall to wall Richard Strauss: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
September 4, 2022 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
Lucrezia Borgia: an opera review by Alex First
August 29, 2022 by Alex First
Soaring vocals and a bravura performance by soprano Helena Dix are among the many highlights of Lucrezia Borgia, in which subterfuge and skulduggery abound. Read more
Ray Chen plays Mendelssohn: a music review by Alan Slade
August 19, 2022 by Alan Slade
Ray Chen, the Taiwan-born Australian violinist who came with his parents to Brisbane as an infant, played his 1715 Stradivarius “Joachim” violin in a spectacular rendition of Felix Mendelssohn’s E-minor concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor, New Zealand’s Gemma New, in the Thursday afternoon series in the just-reopened concert hall of Sydney’s Opera House. Read more
Two thirds and one Dean: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
August 11, 2022 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
A little lunch music
August 4, 2022 by Alan Slade
The aptly named “A little lunch music” is a series of six musical experiences curated by Kathy Selby and Sydney’s City Recital Hall. Read more
The Opera House bares all with Mahler: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 21, 2022 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
Il Trovatore: an opera review by Murray Dahm
July 18, 2022 by Murray Dahm
This new production of Verdi’s 1853 opera Il Trovatore directed by Davide Livermore had all the bells and whistles – the 14 LED digital panels supplemented with big, old-fashioned set pieces and a wonderful cast. Read more
Behind the scenes: La traviata assistant director Warwick Doddrell
July 15, 2022 by Murray Dahm
Opera Australia assistant director for the La traviata season Warwick Doddrell was first bitten by the theatre bug in the 1990s watching the Essgee Entertainment productions of Gilbert & Sullivan show starring Jon English (The Pirates of Penzance (1994), The Mikado (1995) and H.M.S. Pinafore (1997). Read more
Stacey Alleaume magnificent in classic Traviata triumph
July 8, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
If Giuseppe Verdi is indeed the greatest opera composer (which I certainly think he is ) then among his many great compositions La Traviata must surely be close to the very top…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
A Little Lunch Music: a music review by Alan Slade
July 7, 2022 by Alan Slade
“A Little Lunch Music” is a series of 6 concerts in Sydney’s iconic Recital Hall, whose interior is modelled on Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and which is acknowledged to have among the best acoustics in the world. Read more
Madama Butterfly: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
July 3, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
Bravo Opera Australia, which once more has given us an unforgettable evening. Read more
Come Rain or Come Shine: a theatre review by Alex First
June 30, 2022 by Alex First
Come Rain or Come Shine is a charming, funny and smart romantic musical comedy, which unfolds over nearly three decades. Read more
Murray Dahm talks to Madama Butterfly star Virgilio Marino
June 29, 2022 by Murray Dahm
The character of Goro in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly is essential to the opera’s drama. Read more
Some familiar, some unfamiliar: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
June 2, 2022 by Fraser Beath McEwing
They were presented in equal quantities at last night’s concert. Read more
Lohengrin: an opera review by Alex First
May 17, 2022 by Alex First
Treachery and subterfuge abound in the Australian premiere of a new production of Richard Wagner’s otherworldly romance Lohengrin at the State Theatre, Arts Centre in Melbourne. Read more
Murray Dahm talks with opera star Daniel Sumegi
May 13, 2022 by Murray Dahm
Daniel Sumegi’s rich, mellifluous bass voice booms across even over a Zoom call. Daniel admitted that he is probably more of a bass-baritone these days although he “still has all the (bass) notes” and he is singing the bass role of Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Fowler) in Opera Australia’s upcoming production of Wagner’s 1850 masterpiece ‘fantastical romance’ Lohengrin. Read more
La Traviata: an opera review by Alex First
May 10, 2022 by Alex First
Soprano Stacey Alleaume is almost ethereal in a scintillating performance as Violetta Valery in Giuseppe Verdi’s fraught, emotion-charged, love story La Traviata (which translates to The Fallen Woman). Read more
Two mighty trees and a sapling: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 5, 2022 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
Exciting concert at Sydney’s Great Synagogue
Vladamir Fanshil continues his series of intimate concerts with an amazing offering at Sydney’s Great Synagogue. Read more
Friday morning with Richard, Wolfgang, Carl and Felix
April 24, 2022 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more
