Latest news
MSO appoints a new CEO
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has a new chief executive. Andre Gremillet comes to the MSO after serving as president as chief executive of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 2007. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/french-canadian-to-helm-mso/story-fn9d2mxu-1226428527010 http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/new-jersey-symphony-president-goes-down-under/?ref=music
The Barenboims: the second generation
Musical dynasties have made their mark in music from the days of the Scarlattis and the Bachs, through to the Shankars and the Lennons. Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim’s 26 year old violinist son Michael, has for 9 years, been the leader of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, (WEDO) created by Barenboim senior as an act of middle eastern reconciliation. The WEDO…
The Choir of St James’ launches CD project
The Choir of St James’ King Street has been busy recording music for a CD project, Metamorphosis. Recorded in the reverberant acoustic of the crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral, the project is seeking funding for the CD to become a reality. However, the works recorded include: Twist J: Lamentation of Jeremiah Versa est…
Pianist bridges the political chasm
This week, Richard Tognetti along with ACO2 and guest artists have packed their surf gear and travelled the country presenting The Reef. which comes to Sydney on Monday July 23rd. Back in Sydney, three core members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra are performing Schubert’s Trout Quintet and Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with…
Accolades for Carolyn Watson
Sydney conductor Carolyn Watson’s star continue to rise as she has headed off to Europe for the northern summer. She sent Sounds Like Sydney a ‘postcard’ from Berlin. “I’m writing this from Berlin where I’ve just arrived. Very fortunately, I was named as the recipient of Opera Foundation Australia’s 2012 Berlin New Music Opera Award,…
More news….
There are changes afoot in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, aimed at improving the acoustic. More at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/opinion/acoustic-alterations-at-the-opera-house-must-retain-the-architectural-harmony-of-the-hall/story-fn9n9z9n-1226420429346 What’s the obsession with expecting musicians to have the stamina of an athlete, the technique of the possessed and the looks of a deity? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/making-beautiful-music/story-fn9n8gph-1226416992126 Review the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s current touring…
Latest reviews
‘Messiah’ at St James’ King Street: a listener’s perspective
Whatever the diet of musicians in Handel’s time, his performers must certainly have had tremendous stamina. ‘Messiah’ as Handel intended, for a chamber sized ensemble is a massive test of endurance, requiring a technique that supports the power of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, the coloratura of ‘All we like sheep’ and the hushed sostenuto of ‘Since by man came death’. After all this comes the mighty…
The Australia Ensemble reviewed
Peter McCallum reviews the Australia Ensemble for the Sydney Morning Herald. (Even the SMH makes typos!) http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/review/gig/australia-ensemlbe-20120318-1vdnw.html