Legends in Concert: A musical review by Alex First

Energy and enthusiasm are the hallmarks of a slick tribute show to some of the greatest musical artists the world has seen. Read more

Mozart’s evil hero Don Giovanni brilliantly portrayed writes Victor Grynberg

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is often described as one of the big three of classical composition, along with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. Read more

French-Israeli bass-baritone Yuri Kissin interviewed by Murray Dahm

Yuri Kissin began his singing career in a most unusual way – he was a stand-up comedian and doing a sketch that parodied ‘opera singing.’ Read more

La Boheme reaches its 200th performance

Gale Edwards’ enduring and much-loved production of La Bohème will celebrate its 200th performance when it returns to the Sydney Opera House this summer. Read more

Handel’s Messiah: a choral concert reviewed by Victor Grynberg

Since I attended the opening of the Sydney Opera House 50 years ago, I have attended perhaps more than 1500 performances there. Read more

Andrew had nowhere to sit, so he stood up and played: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

When Andrew Haveron walked on stage at the Sydney Opera House concert hall last night carrying his violin, his usual chair was occupied by associate concertmaster Harry Bennetts. Read more

Carmen’s Don Jose: Diego Torre speaks with Murray Dahm

I spoke with Diego Torre ahead of Carmen on Sydney’s Cockatoo Island, in which he takes on the role of Don Jose. Read more

“Carmen “ on Cockatoo Island. ‘Unforgettable and a must see’ says Victor Grynberg

Carmen is probably the most played opera around the world. Read more

Murray Dahm speaks with Carmen’s bullfighter

I last spoke with Daniel Sumegi before the Melbourne performances of Wagner’s Lohengrin earlier this year. Now he returns to Australia in Carmen on Cockatoo Island as Escamillo, the bull-fighter and lover of the gypsy Carmen after she has tired of ex-corporal Don Jose. Read more

The Phantom of the Opera: Alex First reviews the Melbourne production

Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterful work The Phantom of the Opera sizzles. Read more

A beauty and two beasts: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Under the baton of Simone Young, the SSO turned in a stirring performance last night from the two big Bs: Brahms’ first symphony and Beethoven’s violin concerto with soloist James Ehnes. Read more

Lunch with Umberto

A Little Lunch Music is a long-running series created by the accomplished Australian pianist Kathryn Selby in 2007. Read more

Verdi’s Attila: another masterpiece – reviewed by Victor Grynberg

Giuseppe Verdi, in the judgement of many, was the greatest ever composer of operas. Read more

DanceX Part II: reviewed by Alex First

The Australian premiere of Johan Inger’s comic, romantic dance theatre piece I New Then, set to songs by Van Morrison, is superb. Read more

Instruments of Dance (The Australian Ballet): reviewed by Alex First

The second line of Peter Allen’s iconic anthem, I Still Call Australia Home, contains the words “From New York to Rio and old London Town”. Read more

Beethoven and Schumann favourites: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Every so often, Australian international pianist and teacher Sarah Grunstein forsakes New York to visit to her original home, Sydney and gives a recital in the Opera House’s Utzon Room. Read more

The Phantom of the Opera: a review by Victor Grynberg

A season virtually sold out before opening night was a definite indication that the local audience was expecting something special from the first Sydney Opera House staging of this mega-hit. Read more

Wall to wall Richard Strauss: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Before I go into raptures about the sound of the Australian World Orchestra and the remarkable coup to entice virtually-retired Zubin Mehta to conduct it again, I have to question the choice of an all-Richard Strauss program. Read more

Lucrezia Borgia: an opera review by Alex First

Soaring vocals and a bravura performance by soprano Helena Dix are among the many highlights of Lucrezia Borgia, in which subterfuge and skulduggery abound. Read more

Ray Chen plays Mendelssohn: a music review by Alan Slade

Ray Chen, the Taiwan-born Australian violinist who came with his parents to Brisbane as an infant, played his 1715 Stradivarius “Joachim” violin in a spectacular rendition of Felix Mendelssohn’s E-minor concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor, New Zealand’s Gemma New, in the Thursday afternoon series in the just-reopened concert hall of Sydney’s Opera House. Read more

Two thirds and one Dean: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Albert Einstein is credited as saying: ‘Before Beethoven, music was written for the immediate. With Beethoven, you start writing music for eternity.’ Read more

A little lunch music

The aptly named “A little lunch music” is a series of six musical experiences curated by Kathy Selby and Sydney’s City Recital Hall. Read more

The Opera House bares all with Mahler: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

There was more than music to celebrate the return of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to the Sydney Opera House concert hall last night. Read more

Il Trovatore: an opera review by Murray Dahm

This new production of Verdi’s 1853 opera Il Trovatore directed by Davide Livermore had all the bells and whistles – the 14 LED digital panels supplemented with big, old-fashioned set pieces and a wonderful cast. Read more

Behind the scenes: La traviata assistant director Warwick Doddrell

Opera Australia assistant director for the La traviata season  Warwick Doddrell was first bitten by the theatre bug in the 1990s watching the Essgee Entertainment productions of Gilbert & Sullivan show starring Jon English (The Pirates of Penzance (1994), The Mikado (1995) and H.M.S. Pinafore (1997). Read more

Stacey Alleaume magnificent in classic Traviata triumph

If Giuseppe Verdi is indeed the greatest opera composer (which I certainly think he is ) then among his many great compositions La Traviata must surely be close to the very top…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more

A Little Lunch Music: a music review by Alan Slade

“A Little Lunch Music” is a series of 6 concerts in Sydney’s iconic Recital Hall, whose interior is modelled on Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and which is acknowledged to have among the best acoustics in the world. Read more

Madama Butterfly: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

Bravo Opera Australia, which once more has given us an unforgettable evening. Read more

Come Rain or Come Shine: a theatre review by Alex First

Come Rain or Come Shine is a charming, funny and smart romantic musical comedy, which unfolds over nearly three decades. Read more

Murray Dahm talks to Madama Butterfly star Virgilio Marino

The character of Goro in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly is essential to the opera’s drama. Read more

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