Latest news

Changing strings – the TSQ disbands and the ASQ is reviewed

As the Tokyo String Quartet continues its final tour before disbanding, the Australian String Quartet gives its last concerts with violinist Anne Horton and cellist Rachel Johnston. Matthew Westwood reports in The Australian that the members of the TSQ “will hand back their instruments – two violins, a viola and cello made by Antonio Stradivari and once…
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Sydney violinist has the best of two worlds

  Kirsty Hilton has the best of two very rarefied worlds. As well as being Co-Principal 2nd violin with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, she is also a violinist and sole Australian representative with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, based in Europe and which is soon to tour to Sydney, conducted by Daniel Harding. She has been performing…
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The ASQ changes its line up

Earlier this month, it was announced that violinist Anne Horton and cellist Rachel Johnson, will leave the Adelaide based Australian String Quartet after a career of 6 years with the ensemble. The upcoming Schubert tour will be the last for the pair. Their departure follows the departures of violinist Sophie Rowell and violist Sally Boud, to…
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Alisa Weilerstein Interview: Learning music from ‘the inside’

It is a dilemma that faces any musician curating a programme for a concert or a recording – what to programme with a work that is so iconic that there is a risk of eclipsing whatever else is presented with it?  The Cello Concerto in E minor opus 85, by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) is…
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‘Torrid Nature Scenes’ from a composer with ‘a cracking style’

TORRID NATURE SCENES, is an album of chamber works from Australian composer Nicholas Vines which presents a series of musical landscapes that instill both anxiety and ebullience in the listener. Through his innovative use of woodwinds, voice, and chamber ensemble, Vines –  lauded for his “crackling style” (NewMusicBox) and called “compellingly original” (Boston Phoenix) and…
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Latest reviews

CD Review: Amy Dickson ‘Dusk & Dawn’

  Dusk & Dawn Amy Dickson,  Sony Classics 88725479572 Sydney born saxophonist Amy Dickson’s latest CD release Dusk & Dawn won for her the title of Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2013 Classical Brit Awards. This was the first Classical Brit Award for an Australian as well for the saxophone. Dusk & Dawn contains 12 familiar tracks arranged for saxophone and…

Review: Canadian Opera and Opera Australia Co-Production of ‘Peter Grimes’ in Toronto

Peter  Grimes – Benjamin Britten Four Seasons Theatre, Toronto 8 October 2013. Opera Australia’s 2009 production of Britten’s Peter Grimes by Neil Armfield was a co-production with the West Australian Opera, Houston Grand Opera and the Canadian Opera Company.  The Canadians have delayed showing the production until this year and it is now their contribution…