Latest news
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’: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/minister-denies-axing-new-zealand-symphony-orchestra
Music in the middle-east – the thoughts of an iranian pianist
The geographic and ethnic boundaries of Western classical music are being extended. Extended with a purpose. Recently, the Australian Chamber Orchestra featured Palestinian-Israeli pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar. They played the music of Schubert and Messiaen. Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are recording the orchestral works of Beethoven. They have perhaps achieved more towards Middle Eastern reconciliation…
Beethoven For All – free download
Click on the link below for your free download of the final movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 from Decca’s Beethoven for All collection, performed by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim, with soprano Anna Samul, mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier, tenor Peter Sieffert and bass Wolfgang Koch and the Vokalensemble Kolber Dom. http://www.universalmusic.net.au/freedownloads/beethovenforall…
Barenboim Brings Beethoven for All
Beethoven for All. Music of Power, Passion and Beauty, West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim pianist and conductor. Decca 478 3513. 2 CD set. The double CD set Beethoven For All- Music of Power, Passion and Beauty from Decca, features pianist, conductor and social activist Daniel Barenboim conducting the West- Eastern Divan…
Avan Yu wins the 2012 Sydney International Piano Competition
Avan Yu, the 24 year old Hong Kong born Canadian entrant has won the 2012 Sydney International Piano Competition. Yu has earned a sweep of prizes which include recording contracts with ABC Classics and Naxos, a major return tour in Australia, the opportunity to perform at the Klavier-Festival Ruhr in 2013, the Bochum Festival in 2014 and…
The 2012 Sydney Eisteddfod
Keep up with all the results from the 2012 Sydney Eisteddfod: http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/Results_2012.htm
Latest reviews
José Carbó – ‘My Latin Heart’
It comes from his heart. His Latin heart. Argentinian born Australian baritone José Carbó has recorded a collection of music from Argentina, My Latin Heart, a tribute to his heritage. Accompanying him are guitarist brothers Leonard and Slava Grigoryan. Together they have created a swathe of Latin American songs that blaze, glow, fade to embers and flare again. Carbó…
Danielle de Niese with the Australian Chamber Orchestra
On hearing that I was attending the opening night of Danielle de Niese’s concert season with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney, a friend asked me to let him know whether I thought he should go along to hear her. Twenty four hours after the concert, I’m still deliberating on my response to him. Danielle de Niese is…