David Robertson to lead the Sydney Symphony from 2014

  There is tremendous excitement at the announcement by the Sydney Symphony that American conductor David Robertson will be its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director from 2014 succeeding the much loved Vladimir Ashkenazy. David Robertson has a string of impressive orchestral appointments to his name having been Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony since 2005…

George Benjamin – a composer with a story to tell

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…

opening night with the australian brandenburg orchestra

Opening night photos from the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir’s Bach Eternal programme.  There are several more performances between now and May 19th. http://soundslikesydney.com.au/shows/brandenburg-earlybird-offer-for-bach-eternal/7136.html Images by courtesy of and taken by Steven Godbee.          

Update from the ANU School of Music

More on the dire situation at the ANU School of Music: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/anu-music-head-on-indefinte-leave-as-tension-builds-20120510-1yemu.html

ENO shuns the big screen

The move to the cinema screen is not for the English National Opera says its artistic director John Berry: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/news/live-opera-in-cinemas-no-way-says-eno-7729177.html

singing and supper

This entertaining feature from the New York Times looks at the role of food in opera: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/dining/opera-singers-who-dine-as-part-of-the-show.html?_r=1

Head of School at ANU Music to take leave

Following the dramatic cuts to the ANU School of Music, in news just to hand, the Head of School Professor Adrian Walter has been instructed to take extended leave, returning to work only if he agrees to implement the changes announced last week. http://citynews.com.au/2012/news/music-school-chief-told-to-take-leave/

‘The Voice’ – an academic voices her thoughts.

Dr Rowena Cowley, is a senior lecturer in voice and opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and President of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is also a friend of Sounds Like Sydney. She voices her thoughts on the hit Channel 9 star seeker show – The Voice: http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=6&newsstoryid=9139C

Sydney’s ‘House’ in Lego

If you thought you’d seen it all when Mattel released its Opera House Barbie doll, resplendent in ocean coloured mermaid dress with swirls of white, think again. Now Lego have released its vision of the Sydney Opera House as part of its Architect series, placing the distinctive building alongside others in this collection which includes New York’s Guggenheim Museum, the Burj Khalifa…