Latest news
Outback Opera
Check out this very entertaining feature from smh.tv – Opera Australia’s production of La Boheme goes on a regional tour: http://www.smh.com.au/tv/show/outback-opera/outback-opera-20111118-1nmzi.html?rand=1321745380422
Ryde-Hunters Hill Symphony Orchestra calls for musicians
Orchestral musicians! The Ryde- Hunters Hill Symphony Orchestra launches its inaugural season in 2012 and is looking for enthusiastic and talented musicians to join its ranks under Music Director and conductor George Ellis. If you have orchestral performance experience and would enjoy playing classic orchestral repertoire with like-minded people then contact them for an audition at: http://www.rhhso.org.au/auditions/ Auditions…
The lasting memory
An intriguing feature on how music is remembered when other aspects of memory are impaired. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/musicians-memories-wiped-except-for-notes-of-harmony-20111114-1nfid.html
Notes on memory
Performing is a curious business. It regularly throws up conundrums and contradictions and one of those is the phenomenon of memory. Dancers develop their muscle memory from hours of rehearsal and cues from the accompaniment; memorising lines is implicit in being an actor. Solo instrumentalists almost always perform from memory. All opera singers work from memory, yet…
The day opera sent a message to the government
So Silvio Berlusconi has finally stepped down. Recently, Alex Ross wrote about the indifference of the Berlusconi government to supporting the arts in Italy. (1) Ross also makes reference to the unprecedented action by Riccardo Muti, conducting Nabucco halted the performance and spoke to the audience about the situation. The response from both the chorus and the…
Poland awards woodward the gloria artis
The Australian pianist Roger Woodward has been awarded the Medal for Merit to Culture, Gloria Artis, gold category, by the Polish government – the highest award for contribution to Polish culture. This is Wooward’s fourth award for his services to Polish culture. Roger Woodward’s interpretation of the music of Chopin, his promotion of Polish culture, his services to…
Latest reviews
Arrebato fuses flameno, jazz and the world in their second CD “Absolucion”
The style is possibly as difficult to define as the English meaning of their name – “Arrebato”, variously translated as “fury”, “something that rises rapidly” or “a wave of emotion”. It’s fair to say that any and all of these describe the music of this ensemble. Arrebato release their second CD “Absolucion” in June 2011….
New Alden production of “Dream” an abstraction of Britten’s life.
Once in a while in opera, a new production comes along that fits so perfectly with the narrative, history and legend, that you wonder why it took so long for the concept to be realized. Christopher Alden’s new production of Britten’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the ENO, is one such offering. More “Scream” than “Dream”,…