Uncommon music for the common man…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Calling its program ‘Symphony for the Common Man’, the SSO presented music by Ford, Rachmaninov and Copeland in an interesting mix of Australian, Russian and American composers. Read more

They stood and cheered…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

After hearing Russian pianist, Daniil Trifonov play Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto last week in the Opera House, I eagerly anticipated his solo recital last night. I came away not just impressed, but gobsmacked, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

The Russian boys get together: a music review

The APT Master Series opened its SSO 2017 season at the Sydney Opera House with a cleverly conceived and superbly executed concert dominated by Russians…writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

The lion was let out…a music review by FraserBeath McEwing

I enthusiastically joined an almost full house at the Sydney Opera House to hear the embedded grand organ played – as I have occasionally done in the past – but nothing prepared me for uplift and grandeur produced by English-born, Australian-educated organist, Joseph Nolan…writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

Meet Karen Feldman

Karen Feldman’s Mazl is in Yiddish Songs, a journey she has taken over many years…now finally recorded on a CD, remotely collaborated with musical director Adam Starr and musical arranger John Sharpley. A video interview. Read more

Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich

Continuing a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis…this month features Arnold Schoenberg. Read more

Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich

Continuing a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis. Read more

Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich

Continuing the series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis. Read more

London Klezmer to tour Australasia

Much-loved international klezmer ensemble the London Klezmer Quartet return to Australasia in January 2017  and will feature music from  their latest hit album. Read more

Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich

A monthly series by Stevie Whitmont of vignettes of Jewish composers banned in by Nazis. This month features Henriëtte Bosmans. Read more

Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich

J-Wire publishes a monthly series by Stevie Whitmont of vignettes of Jewish composers banned in by Nazis. This month features Hans Gál. Read more

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations, played by Sarah Grunstein

A performance of JS Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations for keyboard is a rare treat…writes William Brooks. Read more

Sarah Grunstein to perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations

One of Australia’s most distinguished international pianists New York-based Sarah Grunstein will come home to Sydney and Melbourne later this year. Read more

The Australian World Orchestra wowed them…a music review from Fraser Beath McEwing

Reflecting the unique nature of the Australian World Orchestra (AWO), its fifth birthday concert last night in the Sydney Opera House could be reviewed from two different perspectives. Both are worthy of resounding praise. Read more

A little too gentle?

After his sensitive and powerful rendition of the Schumann piano concerto with the SSO last week I was looking forward to a sparkling solo recital form Nelson Freire last night – but I didn’t get it, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

Boys from Brazil…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Not athletes or para-athletes in Rio this time, but a Brazilian conductor and a pianist who, with considerable help from the SSO, produced an outstanding concert in the APT Master Series last night. Read more

Jerusalem Quartet in Melbourne: 30% discount for J-Wire readers

There is a great depth to the Jerusalem’s Quartet’s musical heritage that lends authority to the masterworks they are performing on their Australian tour. Read more

Shir Madness shines in the rain

Well over 1000 people attended Jewish music festival at the pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach despite continual rain. Read more

Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich

J-Wire a monthly series by Stevie Whitmont of vignettes of Jewish composers banned in by Nazis. This month features Gideon Klein.  Read more

Three peas in a pod…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Last night’s APT Master Series programme threw the orchestral gauntlet down to the SSO – and it delivered in spades, producing everything from passionate storms to gentle rain to exotic and erotic scenery. This orchestra was made for this music. Read more

A resoundingly satisfying performance…an SSO music review

Staying in familiar territory, but with more ear-challenges than the last APT Mater Series concert, the SSO loaded up its heavy artillery for a resoundingly satisfying performance last night, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

An appeal to the sweet tooth and Mad Max…a music review

After testing recent audiences’ resilience with the lunges and shocks of Messiaen, and then their staying power to see off Haydn’s Creation, last night’s concert opened a chocolate box full of favourite flavours, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

Shir Madness 2016

Jewish music festival SHIR MADNESS returns to Sydney for 2016 and the first list of acts has been announced. Read more

Audience in embryo

It doesn’t take much imagination to look over the aging sea of regular Sydney Opera House orchestral audiences to know that in 20 years from now the tide could have gone out – never to come back in, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

An evening with a remarkable pianist…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

While there are many valid opinions as to who is the best classical pianist in the world, you do know when you’re in the presence of a contender. That was how I felt after hearing Alexander Gavrylyuk in recital at the Theme & Variations Foundation fundraiser last night. Read more

In the beginning – retold…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Whether you believe in the Big Bang or the Bible when deciding how everything started, Haydn’s The Creation stands inarguably as one of the most outstanding musical works of the 18^th Century. Read more

Box office boo-boo but a great performance

While many punters voted no with their buttocks, those who did come to the Sydney City Recital Hall last night for two hours of Messiaen went home rewarded, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

A testing night for some, bliss for others

The SSO went out on a limb presenting a single work by a contemporary composer for the usually predictable ATP Master Series concert last night, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

Ludwig van does it again

Another entire program of Beethoven under Vladimir Ashkenazy, with the addition of a solo violinist, again packed the Sydney Opera House for the second of the 2016 APT Master Series concerts, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

A night at the pictures

Pictures are what American pianist Garrick Ohlsson had in mind for his recital last night, the first of the International pianists in Recital concerts for 2016 in the Sydney City Recital Hall, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

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