A moving feast of Johannes: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
August 30, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra devoted its prowess to a whole program by one composer in the APT Master Series concert last night. And while that didn’t cast a wide musical net, it delivered an outstanding experience for those who are partial to Johannes Brahms. Read more
Roman Salyutov’s Melbourne piano recital
August 14, 2018 by Ron Jontof-Hutter
Russian-German pianist Roman Salyutov visited Melbourne on his way home from New Zealand where he enthralled music lovers in a recital…writes Ron Jontof-Hutter. Read more
The Turk in Italy: an Opera review by Victor Grynberg
August 13, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
2 parts Rossini + 1 part Phillips = a sparkling cocktail. Read more
An interview with pianist Roman Salyutov
August 9, 2018 by Ron Jontof-Hutter
Ron Jontof-Hutter meets Russian-German Pianist Roman Salyutov who will perform in recital on Sunday at the South Melbourne Town Hall. Read more
Ben and Gus don’t let you off lightly: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
August 9, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A program of Britten and Mahler is not for those who want to hum tunes or tap feet, as demonstrated by last night’s APT Master Series SSO concert at the Sydney Opera House. Read more
Osborne at war and peace – a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
August 7, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Distinguished Scottish pianist, Steven Osborne, unexpectedly interleaved major piano works by Debussy and Prokofiev to present contrasting musical landscapes, not only in composition but playing style as well. Read more
Fiddler returns to Moriah
July 30, 2018 by Geoff Sirmai
Moriah College, Sydney’s oldest and largest Jewish school, presents the definitive production of the classic Broadway musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF from 21 October to 1 November – and with an all-singing, all-dancing cast of more than 150. It’s a Tradition! Read more
Put this one on your Liszt: A CD review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 29, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The piano music of Franz Liszt is often seen as either too syrupy or a keyboard version of a wood-chopping event. Read more
Aida…spectacular and phenomenal: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
July 22, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
The reader may think this headline refers to the much-anticipated digital set for this new production of Verdi’s great opera by Opera Australia. Read more
Picturesque, to say the least: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 19, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Last night’s Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s APT Master Series concert was all about creating dramatic sound pictures, some clearly subtitled, some borrowed form the Russian Orthodox Church and the rest a challenging kaleidoscope from a contemporary American female composer. Read more
Rigoletto: Tragedy and melody in triumph: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
July 8, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
This 17th of the 37 operas that Verdi wrote, arguably has the best score of all his masterpieces. Read more
The unexpected from Simon Trpčeski: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 3, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Those who have followed the career of Macedonian pianist, Simon Trpčeski, might have expected a program of at least some popular technical showpieces for his solo concert in the Sydney Recital Hall last night. Read more
Singers shine in Lucia di Lammermoor: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
July 3, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
Exquisite singing was the memorable takeout of the re-staging of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House. Read more
Play it again, Avan: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 1, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Avan Yu, winner of the 2012 Sydney Piano Competition, was invited back to play a concert at the Sydney Con last night. Read more
An evening with Sir Andrew Davis, Anne-Sophie Mutter and the MSO
June 25, 2018 by Ron Jontof-Hutter
The Melbourne Symphony orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis played a memorable concert on Saturday evening…writes Ron Jontof-Hutter. Read more
Anne-Sophie Mutter with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra: a music review by Victor Grynberg
June 19, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
On her third visit in just six years, arguably the world’s leading violinist, Anne-Sophie Mutter clearly wanted to share her ability with a delighted Sydney audience. Read more
An evening with the MSO and Thomas Hampson singing Mahler: a music review by Ron Jontof-Hutter
June 9, 2018 by Ron Jontof-Hutter
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presented a more unusual type of program consisting of three tone poems and a song cycle rather than the traditional overture, concerto, symphony format. Read more
An evening of Mozart: a music review by Ron Jontof-Hutter
May 13, 2018 by Ron Jontof-Hutter
The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic and the Melbourne University Choral Society presented an all-Mozart program at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Read more
Symphony of Seduction: A book review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 13, 2018 by Fraser McEwing
Celebrity love affairs have always attracted public interest, especially when the participants are in the creative arts. It is in this light that we look for pre and post bed (or elsewhere) techniques that might be interpreted as extensions of the artistic pursuit. Read more
Australian World Orchestra is among the best: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 3, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The choice of two major symphonies by Brahms and Tchaikovsky gave the Australian World Orchestra the chance to shine at the Sydney Opera House last night. And shine it did. Read more
A unique concert opportunity
April 20, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Although the now celebrated Australian World Orchestra is scheduled to perform early in May, it is not a symphony orchestra that anybody has ever heard before or will ever hear again…writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more
Lesser known works from two great composers: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
April 12, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
If you want a Beethoven mass you’ve only got two choices: the more secularly accessible 1812 Mass in C major, Op.86 or the longer, holier and meatier 1824 Missa Solemnis which the SSO last presented in 2015. Read more
La Bohème: Puccini’s masterpiece of love and loss transfers superbly to Sydney Harbour – reviewed by Victor Grynberg.
March 26, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
This is the sixth opera since Opera Australia commenced their Operas on the Harbour in 2012 with Carmen repeated last year. Read more
The lion never got out of its cage: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 25, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The Sydney Opera House organ recital is something like an annual pilgrimage for me. Read more
A thoroughly good weepfest: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 22, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
If you wanted to feel magnificently melancholic, Sydney’s Recital Hall was the place to be last night. Russian-born violinist Alina Ibragimova joined the Australian Chamber Orchestra to present ‘Death and the Maiden” a title borrowed from Schubert’s Quartet in D minor arranged for string orchestra – which was the final work on the program. Read more
Magnificent Ferruccio Furlanetto lives and dies a great “Don Quichotte”: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
March 21, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
After much anticipation, and a non-appearance on opening night due to indisposition, Sydney finally saw the great Ferruccio Furlanetto in the role for which, world-wide he has appeared and received rave reviews about. Read more
La Boheme ready to launch on Sydney Harbour
March 20, 2018 by Arts Editor
The countdown to one of the world’s greatest outdoor opera spectaculars has begun – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Read more
An excitingly unexpected concert: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 15, 2018 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Last night’s APT Master Series concert at the Sydney Opera House dispensed with a curtain raiser and jumped straight into the drawcard: Nelson Freire playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major (Emperor) with Donald Runnicles conducting the SSO. Read more
Kosky’s genius brings hilarity to an opera farce: The Nose – an opera review by Victor Grynberg
February 25, 2018 by Victor Grynberg
Based on a novel by Gogol, Shostakovich’s opera The Nose is as ridiculous a story as ever seen in opera. Read more
A contemporary take in music on old Yiddish
February 18, 2018 by Tayla Rosen
Taking old Yiddish drinking songs, collaborating them with 60’s jazz, 70’s funk and good old big band sounds to create a dance mash up, is what YID! is all about. This unique recipe for success takes you through a whirlwind of cheerful, edgy, wild and vibrantly upbeat tunes that’s sure to get you on your feet. Read more
