The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is safe from cuts
Gramophone magazine reports that the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will not be axed with the nation’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister describing the move as ‘unthinkable’:
Gramophone magazine reports that the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will not be axed with the nation’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister describing the move as ‘unthinkable’:
Soprano Nicole Car has withdrawn from the January 2017 performances of La Bohème. The role of Mimi will be sung by the Italian soprano Mariangela Sicilia. Sicilia made her operatic debut in 2009 as Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel. Prior to her Sydney appearance, she will be singing the role of Sophie in Werther at the Teatro…
In Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, otherwise known as The Ring Cycle, three Rhinemaidens guard the Rhinegold, a priceless treasure. Not quite Rhinemaidens, Director Neil Armfield and Associate Director Roger Press, along with their cast and creatives have the formidable task of acting as custodians for Opera Australia’s 2016 reprise of this monolithic work…
Awards for excellence in acting are separated according to gender, so why aren’t the awards for excellence in music? Jessica Duchen of The Independent argues the detrimental effects of a continuing focus on the appearance rather than the abilities of female musicians: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/features/sexism-with-strings-attached-8197972.html
As the Tokyo String Quartet continues its final tour before disbanding, the Australian String Quartet gives its last concerts with violinist Anne Horton and cellist Rachel Johnston. Matthew Westwood reports in The Australian that the members of the TSQ “will hand back their instruments – two violins, a viola and cello made by Antonio Stradivari and once…
Opening tonight at the Joan Sutherland Opera Theatre – Opera Australia’s production of Gounod’s Faust, directed by David McVicar. Check out these images – scroll down to see all eight. Images courtesy Opera Australia
SoundsLikeSydney reports the sad loss of two luminaries of the opera world – soprano and voice coach Eilene Hannan and Opera Australia Italian language coach Renata Fresia-Verdino. Eilene Hannan passed away in London last week aged 67. Her roles for OA included the Marschallin and Katya Kabanova. She also sang the role of Natasha in Prokofiev’s War and…