In our recent Q and A with mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby, she talked about her upcoming roles as Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi for the Chelsea Opera Group and as the Voice from Above in Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Read the glowing reviews of her performances as Romeo in The Guardian and as the ‘Voice’ in Classical Source.
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…
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…
A second Grammy for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s album Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio with its win for Best Engineered Album, Classical: Mark Donahue, engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra). The recording also won the Grammy for Best Classical Recording. Other nominees: Danielpour: Songs Of Solitude & War Songs — Gary Call, engineer (Thomas Hampson, Giancarlo…
Musica Viva is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a swag of memories, sharing clips from some favourite performances over the years. Joyce Yang’s rendition of Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody was a highlight of the 2018 season. Musica Viva welcomed Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang to the stage for a series of solo piano recitals. Renowned for her…
Benjamin Britten’s (22 Nov 1913 – 4 Dec 1976) towering multi-layered musical statement, the War Requiem, opus 66, is to be performed in Sydney, by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy on November 8th and 9th at the Sydney Opera House. Premiering on May 30th, 1962, the work was commissioned to commemorate the consecration…
At the age of 70, Placido Domingo takes yet on another new role – Rigoletto! The Australian reports on this interview with the Times of London. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/at-70-placido-domingo-hits-the-low-notes/story-e6frg8n6-1226094840045