News

Anthony Albrecht ‘s Juilliard Journey

  For Sydney cellist Anthony Albrecht, life is about to undergo an irreversible change. In a few weeks he leaves Australia, to undertake a Master’s degree in historical performance at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. “I’m just trying to become an adaptable Renaissance cellist who is capable of performing at the highest…

Under the impression – the sesquicentenary of Debussy’s birth.

  Wednesday August 22nd 2012 is the sesquicentenary of the birth of Claude Debussy. Whilst the music world plans for the anniversaries next year for Britten, Verdi and Wagner, the acknowledgement of Debussy’s 150th birth anniversary has been distinctly underwhelming. Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times investigates: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/arts/music/debussys-150th-birthday-gets-little-notice.html?_r=1&ref=music

The 2012 Sydney Eisteddfod results

All the music results from the 2012 Sydney Eisteddfod: http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/uploads/2012ClassicalSingingResults.pdf http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/uploads/2012ChoralResults.pdf http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/uploads/2012PianoResults.pdf http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/uploads/2012InstrumentalSoloResults.pdf http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/uploads/2012InstGroupResults.pdf http://www.sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/uploads/2012CreativeResults.pdf

Benjamin grosvenor ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ – a formidable talent

    Playtime for a young Benjamin Grosvenor was less about  manipulating a games console or donning mouthguard and shin pads. For him, ‘playtime’ meant time with his beloved piano – “the big shiny black thing in the music room – very exciting for a child”. This fascination took him from starting pianos lessons aged…

Hot off the press –

Elena Kats Chernin is at work on a new composition: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/many-lands-and-voices-capture-core-of-countrys-heart-20120809-23wu5.html A preview of Zubin Kanga’s Sydney concert http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/dont-try-this-on-the-new-steinway-kids-20120812-242p3.html

Victorian Pianist wins Sydney Eisteddfod Piano Scholarship

  Twenty-four-year-old Victorian pianist Konrad Olsezewski has taken out the prestigious $10,000 Allison/Henderson Sydney Eisteddfod Piano Scholarship with a winning performance, Konrad played the Piano Sonata No 2 in B-flat minor, Opus 36, (1st version) by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Konrad recently completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours at the University of Melbourne and is now studying for a…

Now its opera under the water

  Sydney presented opera on the harbour. Now German soprano Claudia Herr presents the world premiere of her vocal work under the waters of the river Elbe in Dresden. The performance commemorates the devastating floods that hit Saxony 10 years ago. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19215589 http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2012/08/09ElbeOpera.html

BBC Music magazine looks at opera’s 20-20

BBC Music magazine turns 20 next month and to mark the occasion, has collected images from 20 outstanding opera productions over the past 20 years. Take a look at this intriguing picture gallery – and to add some spice, hide the caption and try to guess the opera, the production, the year and the singers….