Sadly Claudio Abbado is no more. Thanks to the digital age, his work lives on through his numerous recordings and videos. Gramophone magazine’s website has a selection of his 10 best recordings and the Berlin Philharmoniker concerts on video.
Australian-Chinese violin sensation Christian Li releases his second track, ‘Fisherman’s Harvest Song’, out now on Decca Classics. To accompany the release, Christian features in a new video of footage from his recording sessions, filmed earlier this year. ‘Fisherman’s Harvest Song’ is a traditional folk tune inspired by the fisherman’s harvest in the South China Sea…
Cellist Rachel Scott is presenting her series ‘Bach in the Dark’ again in 2012. In these unusual concerts she invites her audience to the crypt of St James’ Church in King Street Sydney for programmes of music that are founded in the compositions of the great JS Bach, but which she then takes to another…
Craig Hassall – Opera Australia’s new CEO. Hassall has been appointed the new CEO of Opera Australia, replacing Adrian Collette who left the company at the end of last year. Craig Hassall has worked extensively with Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare, the Olympic Arts Festival for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Cove Australia and the…
Max Richter has written a new piece which pays homage to Beethoven with the release of its world premiere recording on the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. Beethoven – Opus 2020 is a new orchestral work was commissioned by the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, which will host the world premiere performance on the eve of the anniversary….
Later this year, Halcyon in collaboration with Sydney Chamber Opera presents the Australian premiere of Into the Little Hill, by British composer George Benjamin (b 1960). Benjamin has a substantial contemporary output. He has worked with Messiaen and Boulez and his opera Written on Skin premieres at Covent Garden next year. He speaks to Alan…
Judging by the nominations for the 2014 Helpmann Awards, the art of opera in Australia is alive and well with Opera Australia, Hobart Baroque and Victorian Opera in the running for at least three awards each. Since their inauguration in 2001, the Helpmann Awards have recognised distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance…