music maker for the movies – ennio morricone to conduct in australia
Italian composer and conductor Ennio Morricone has won over 25 awards internationally, for his film scores. Amongst them, the haunting themes for Sergio Leone’s Westerns ( A Fistfull of Dollars, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, For few Dollars More), The Mission and Bugsy. Quentin Tarantino used some of Morricone’s music in Inglorious Basterdsand co-artists like…
behind the scenes of a dress rehearsal at Opera Australia
Attending a dress rehearsal for a production by Opera Australia, I sense that the audience has all the expectancy and impatience of children on Christmas Eve, getting a sneak peek at the entertainment to come and to be the first amongst their friends to spill the beans. The orchestra is attired in mufti, the soft…
Don Giovanni trivia…….
Did you know….. the Estates Theatre in Prague where Don Giovanni received its premiere on October 29th 1787, conducted by Mozart himself, still stands. It puts on regular performances of the opera in much the same way it would have been performed in Mozart’s time. Outside the theatre is an ominous looking hooded statue of Il Commendatore. The …
Stephen Hough Strange Sonatas
Pianist Stephen Hough appears to be a man of boundless musical talent, tireless energy, intellect and generosity of spirit. He shares these attributes with his audiences with a sincere enthusiasm devoid of any dark undertones of superiority. His spoken and written words are as much a delight to absorb as his piano playing, and audiences were…
Northey explores mozart’s ‘special genius’ for opera
This week, conductor Benjamin Northey makes his debut with Opera Australia, taking the rostrum for the company’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni (K527). Northey spoke to SoundsLikeSydney whilst preparing for this major undertaking – preparation which has involved rehearsing with the incoming cast, assisting Mark Wigglesworth (who conducted the opening performances), being his ‘ears’ in…
Muti’s million
Conductor Riccardo Muti has been named as the second recipient of the biggest prize in classical music – the Birgit Nilsson Prize. The prize of a million dollars, is a bequest of the late Swedish soprano who died in 2005 aged 87. It is awarded every 2- 3 years for outstanding achievement in opera or concert by…
Richard Gill on music education
Having collaborated on the recent production of The Threepenny Opera, conductor and music educator Richard Gill and performer Eddie Perfect have struck another chord in the field of music education: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/odd-couple-stand-for-classical-ideals-20111015-1lq64.html Checkout also this brilliant presentation by Richard Gill for TEDx 2011 on “The Value of Music Education”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeRus3NVbwE
2011 ARIA FINE ARTS AWARD NOMINEES
Congratulations to ALL the nominees and winners! Best Classical Album Winner: Sally Whitwell – Mad Rush: Piano Music of Philip Glass (ABC Classics) Karin Schaupp & Flinders Quartet – Fandango (ABC Classics) Latitude 37 – Latitude 37 (ABC Classics) Richard Tognetti (violin), Australian Chamber Orchestra – Mozart Violin Concertos Vol 2 (BIS) Teddy Tahu Rhodes…
barenboim to head la scala
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…