Latest news
English National Opera creates the Charles Mackerras Fellowship
The legacy of Sir Charles Mackerras will be honoured in a new award created by the English National Opera, of which Sir Charles was director from 1970-1977. The first recipient is to be announced in April 2012. More at: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/eno-announces-the-charles-mackerras-fellowship
Chamber music – 2012 in Sydney
Chamber music is the focus in the continuing overview of Sydney’s 2012 concert agenda. Australia’s flagship chamber ensemble, the Australian Chamber Orchestra continues its innovative and classy programming performing classics as well as thinking outside the square. They’re bringing to Sydney guests artists whom one would otherwise need to travel the world to hear. Chief amongst these…
Opera – 2012 in Sydney
As the summer holidays end and the Sydney Festival wraps up, Sydneysiders contemplate the start of a wealth of subscription series. Despite the struggle to survive and intense competition for audiences and sponsorship, performing arts companies will offer Sydneysiders numerous opportunities for their delectation, ranging from rare one-offs, through to the equivalent of an evening with…
Vale Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt, Dutch harpsichordist, organist and a world authority on early music, has died after ill health caused him to retire from public performance just last month. http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/harpsichordist-and-conductor-gustav-leonhardt-has-died
Gramophone ranks The Sixteen at No 4 in the world.
Here’s the link to Eric Whitacre’s list of his top 20 international choirs and why they deserve to be there. (Gramophone, December 2010). Soon to perform in Sydney, Harry Christophers and his ensemble The Sixteen, are ranked at No 4. Whitacre says: “Under the expert command of founder Harry Christophers, The Sixteen have combined musical excellence with bold,…
Bach in the Dark 2012
Cellist Rachel Scott is presenting her series ‘Bach in the Dark’ again in 2012. In these unusual concerts she invites her audience to the crypt of St James’ Church in King Street Sydney for programmes of music that are founded in the compositions of the great JS Bach, but which she then takes to another…
Latest reviews
Sydney Camerata grows with metamorphosen
Last week, Sydney Camerata commemorated its third anniversary with a concert they called Metamorphosen,which culminated in the eponymous work for 23 strings by Richard Strauss. The resonant intimacy of North Sydney’s Independent Theatre was well suited to the size and sound of this ensemble, which chameleon like re-configures itself to adapt to what is being performed. Opening the concert with…
‘Sunset’ from the ASQ – an understanding borne of what is not said
As the final notes of Ravel’s String Quartet faded, I wondered what might have coursed through the minds of the players in the Australian String Quartet, especially violinist Sophie Rowell and violist Sally Boud who have chosen to go their own ways from 2012. These four musicians have performed together since 2000, the last 5 years,…