Hot off the press….Anne-Sophie Mutter reviews, the opera conference, ‘Red Dog’ the musical and Sondheim.

Reviews of AnneSophie Mutter with the SSO: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/review/gig/sydney-symphony-with-annesophie-mutter-20120401-1w6ed.html http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/intelligence-and-technique-combine-for-a-sublime-performance/story-e6frg8n6-1226315731944 The Opera Conference: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/keeping-opera-on-song/story-fncypcd0-1226314701379 Red Dog has its day – as a musical: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/musicals/a-big-day-for-a-barking-idea-20120321-1vkf5.html Tim Teeman from The Times interviews Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim talks about his childhood and some of the experiences that have made his lyrics so incisive and his music so poignant: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/stephen-sondheim-is-back-on-the-bike-with-a-new-musical/story-fnb64oi6-1226312296318

More soloists announced for Sappho

    In November last year, Sounds Like Sydney published an interview with emerging conductor Jennifer Condon, presently working as Souffleuse at the Hamburg State Opera. http://soundslikesydney.com.au/wp-admin/post.php?post=5917&action=edit She has however, a burning ambition which has dictated much of how she has spent her time for past 10 years: she wants to bring to life Sappho, the…

opera update….an new name for the opera theatre

How did this get past us??! The opera theatre of the Sydney Opera House will be named in honour of Dame Joan Sutherland: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/theatre-rename-honours-la-stupenda-as-house-awaits-la-traviata-20120316-1vanu.html   An update on La Traviata on Sydney Harbour: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/nervous-wait-for-opera-australia-as-weather-plays-its-part-20120328-1vyla.html  

Dancing with the piano – Zubin Kanga performs in London

Pianist Zubin Kanga recently performed a programme of  ‘new music’ in London. It involved ideas that brooked traditional concepts of how the instrument is played. Read more at: http://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2012/03/piano-insideout-zubin-kanga-kings-place-london/  

Jonathan Lemalu learns a libretto in a new language

Grammy Award winning New Zealand born bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu (he’s sung Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni for OA in Sydney) has had to meet a new challenge – that of learning a libretto in Chinese. He talks about it in this blog. (The Grammy Award was in 2010 for Best Opera Recording Billy Budd) http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/mar/26/learning-to-sing-chinese-songs  

Quotas on overseas singers: another view

Baritone Peter Coleman-Wright offers a view on the suggestion by OA artitic director Lyndon Terracini that quotas be lifted on the hiring of non-Australian singers: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/cast-operas-with-the-singers-you-have-baritone/story-fn9d2mxu-1226312053899

Casting quotas in opera

OA artistic director Lyndon Terracini believes that quotas on the hiring of non-Australian singers should be lifted. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/lyndon-terracini-blasts-prehistoric-union-opera-quota/story-e6frg8n6-1226310782416

Hot off the press…..

Get to know the major benefactor behind Opera on Sydney Harbour, Dr Haruhisa Handa: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/behind-every-good-opera-theres-a-very-generous-patron-20120323-1vpbb.html   Pushing the boundaries with the upcoming ACO Underground concert on April 1st: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/underground-lovers-20120322-1vkuv.html   Selby and Friends “A Ghost at the Cafe” reviewed: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/trio-harness-power-of-understatement-20120323-1vp0w.html   John Shand reviews the latest release form Jordi Savall and his ensemble, featuring his wife…