Milan’s Teatro alla Scalahas named Daniel Barenboim as its next music director. The post has been vacant since the departure of Ricardo Muti in 2005. Barenboim has been principal guest conductor a the theatre, and takes up the permanent post in early December, in time for the opening of the season, traditionally held annually on…

Some of the weekend’s stories and reviews of the Vienna Philharmonic Sydney concerts: Teddy Tahu Rhodes and David Hobson: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/perfect-match/story-e6frg8n6-1226157899124 A look a Mozart’s The Magic Flute: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/enigma-variations/story-e6frg8n6-1226157882835 The Vienna Philharmonic in Sydney: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/out-of-the-void-comes-music-of-the-universe-20111007-1ldhj.html http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/homage-to-schubert-played-to-perfection-20111006-1lbk8.html

Sydney born Director of the Edinurgh International Festival, Jonathan Mills, addresses The Sydney Institue on the role of the ABC in the arts: http://www.thesydneyinstitute.com.au/podcast/the-role-of-the-abc-in-the-arts/ 

John Carmody reviews a new book on the life of Mahler: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/life-and-death-in-music/story-e6frg8nf-1226149465114

As part of the discussions surrounding the formulation of a National Cultural Policy, writer David Malouf talks about why the performing  arts are central to the community.  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/shared-response-to-our-humanity/story-e6frg8n6-1226158384159