Latest news
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Presents The Gerhwin’s Porgy And Bess
If you’re not excited about the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s production of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess – you should be! Opening this Saturday and conducted by David Robertson the cast of singers is led by Alfred Walker and the 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the Year Nicole Cabell in the title roles. This semi-staged production takes…
Paul Lowin Prizes 2016 – The Shortlist
Six new Australian compositions have been announced as finalists for the 2016 Paul Lowin Prizes. Shortlisted for the Orchestral Prize of $25,000 are James Ledger for Golden years, a 2013 composition for violin and orchestra, Cathy Milliken’s Earth Plays, written in 2015 for mezzo-soprano and orchestra and Lachlan Skipworth for his Concerto for clarinet and orchestra written in 2014. Shortlisted…
The Melbourne Ring Cycle 2016 – A Preview
We’re just back from Melbourne where, over the last week SoundsLikeSydney has been sitting in on the final rehearsals for Opera Australia’s 2016 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle which opens tomorrow night at Melbourne’s State Theatre. The verdict? We can’t give away too much, but we can say that this is a superlative production of…
The Ring Cycle 2016 – Image Gallery
Opera Australia’s brilliant production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle opens in Melbourne this week. SoundsLikeSydney has been in Melbourne watching the final week of rehearsals. It is a must see! To whet your appetite, here are some images from this epic cycle of four operas which tells the tale of three generations of gods and goddesses,…
With This Ring – Roger Press On What’s Different About Opera Australia’s 2016 Ring Cycle
In Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, otherwise known as The Ring Cycle, three Rhinemaidens guard the Rhinegold, a priceless treasure. Not quite Rhinemaidens, Director Neil Armfield and Associate Director Roger Press, along with their cast and creatives have the formidable task of acting as custodians for Opera Australia’s 2016 reprise of this monolithic work…
Dark In The Spotlight – Jacqueline Dark On Becoming Fricka
She’s a prodigiously gifted singer and actress, recognised for her roles from the high classics, through the great romantics, to music theatre. She owns the stage, be it in opera, on Sydney harbour, in musicals or cabaret. When I spoke to mezzo-soprano Jacqueline Dark in Sydney, she was enjoying some much needed down-time after a…
Latest reviews
Opera Review: Tosca/ Opera Australia
It was a night of powerful singing and strong dramatic performances when John Bell’s production of Puccini’s Tosca for Opera Australia under revival director Roger Press, opened its third Sydney season last week. Spanish soprano Ainhoa Arteta was a compelling Tosca and Romanian tenor Teodor Ilincăi, a fine Cavaradossi. However, it was Lucio Gallo who…
Concert Review: Haydn and Mozart/Omega Ensemble
Omega Ensemble: David Rowden (Artistic Director and basset clarinet), Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin), Ike See (violin), Neil Thompson (viola), Paul Stender (cello) February 19, Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House Written by Larry Turner The Omega Ensemble’s weekend concert Haydn and Mozart was a superb performance of high calibre which suggests that it might more aptly be…