Happy birthday Ludwig : a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
November 19, 2020 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Working within coronavirus limitations, the Australian Chamber Orchestra is framing its early resuscitation around smaller audiences and multiple performances. This made for a roomy gathering at the Sydney Recital Hall last night. Read more
Fraser Beath McEwing reports: What the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has in store for 2021
October 27, 2020 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Tossing aside the pandemic and the problem faced by wind players blowing through face masks, the SSO has announced the programs for its 2021 season. Read more
Peter Weiss
June 8, 2020 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Prominent businessman and benefactor to the arts, Peter Weiss, has died in Sydney aged 85. Read more
Lie back and listen to Ludwig: a didn’t-happen music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 16, 2020 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Instead of arriving at the Sydney Town Hall next Wednesday night to hear the SSO, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, organ, and four soloists perform Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, I’ll probably be waiting for an Uber-eat paper bag to arrive at home. Read more
Impressions from, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Debussy – and the Sydney Town Hall: a music review from Fraser Beath McEwing
February 27, 2020 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The first concert in the SSO Masters Series for 2020 ushered in the beginning of a two-year stint in ye auld and venerated Sydney Town Hall while the Opera House concert hall is up for a rebore. Read more
A briefish Mahler fest: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
December 5, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
If you love Mahler, this was a concert for you. Read more
Peerless playing from Paul Lewis: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
November 19, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
British pianist, Paul Lewis, filled his Sydney Recital Hall program with just two works last night: Schubert’s Sonata in G D894 and Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. No bonbons to be seen. Read more
The beauty of sadness: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
October 24, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
While concert programs are usually eclectic, so that everybody gets at least something they like, last night’s SSO offering in the Masters Series was unashamedly emotional from start to finish. And I, for one, loved it, not just for the program but the quality of the performance. Read more
Going abroad
October 17, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…today he reports from Malta. Read more
Going abroad
October 16, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…today he reports from Malta. Read more
Going abroad
October 13, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…today he reports from Taormina, Sicily. Read more
Going abroad
October 11, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…today on the road in Sicily. Read more
Going abroad
October 10, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…today on the road – Agrimento.
Going abroad
October 8, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…today on the road – Sicilian style. Read more
Going abroad
October 4, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…the jewels of Faberge. Read more
Going abroad
October 3, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…St Petersburg on the town. Read more
Going abroad
October 2, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels..he visits Russia’s Versailles. Read more
Going abroad
September 29, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…St Petersburg Day Two. Read more
Going abroad
September 27, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…St Petersburg. Read more
Going abroad
September 26, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…still abroad in Moscow. Read more
Going abroad
September 24, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…out in space. Read more
Going abroad
September 22, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…church time. Read more
Gone abroad
September 20, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…he visits Moscow but not before he faces the trials and tribulations of today’s immigration scanners. Read more
Gone abroad
September 18, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
J-Wire’s music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing has added another string to his bow as he takes J-Wire readers on his travels…this time he reviews the A380 and checks out Changi Airport in Singapore. Read more
Something completely different: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
September 3, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Although Geoffrey Lancaster is a world-renowned performer on the fortepiano, it was risky to devote one of the four piano series recitals to a period instrument. Read more
Music from beneath the Bolshevik boot: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
August 29, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Last night’s Masters Series concert was not for faint-hearted orchestral players, conductors or an audience that wanted orderly, familiar music. Read more
Kirill Gerstein’s journey through genres: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
August 6, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Visiting 40-year-old Russian-American pianist, Kirill Gerstein, is at the top of his game. Read more
Da-da-da-darr plus rarities: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 4, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Beethoven’s fifth symphony, a Verdi overture and a Prokofiev violin concerto made a perfectly balanced program for the Masters Series SSO concert last night. And that was before the bonus attractions of a female Chinese conductor and a celebrated Russian/Israeli violinist. Read more
Move over Franz, Lang Lang is in the building: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
June 30, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
You know it’s a Sydney Opera House gala celebrity event when the concerto is played last. Read more
Claytons Brahms and genuine Chopin: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 16, 2019 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Two composers who borrowed from Brahms flanked the real-deal Chopin in the SSO’s Masters Series concert last night at the Sydney Opera House. Read more