Stacey Alleaume magnificent in classic Traviata triumph
July 8, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
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
July 7, 2022 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
July 3, 2022 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
June 30, 2022 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
June 29, 2022 by Murray Dahm
The character of Goro in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly is essential to the opera’s drama. Read more
Some familiar, some unfamiliar: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
June 2, 2022 by Fraser Beath McEwing
They were presented in equal quantities at last night’s concert. Read more
Lohengrin: an opera review by Alex First
May 17, 2022 by Alex First
Treachery and subterfuge abound in the Australian premiere of a new production of Richard Wagner’s otherworldly romance Lohengrin at the State Theatre, Arts Centre in Melbourne. Read more
Murray Dahm talks with opera star Daniel Sumegi
May 13, 2022 by Murray Dahm
Daniel Sumegi’s rich, mellifluous bass voice booms across even over a Zoom call. Daniel admitted that he is probably more of a bass-baritone these days although he “still has all the (bass) notes” and he is singing the bass role of Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Fowler) in Opera Australia’s upcoming production of Wagner’s 1850 masterpiece ‘fantastical romance’ Lohengrin. Read more
La Traviata: an opera review by Alex First
May 10, 2022 by Alex First
Soprano Stacey Alleaume is almost ethereal in a scintillating performance as Violetta Valery in Giuseppe Verdi’s fraught, emotion-charged, love story La Traviata (which translates to The Fallen Woman). Read more
Two mighty trees and a sapling: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 5, 2022 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Two mighty trees and a sapling: that summarised the SSO’s program last night in the Sydney Town Hall. Read more
Exciting concert at Sydney’s Great Synagogue
Vladamir Fanshil continues his series of intimate concerts with an amazing offering at Sydney’s Great Synagogue. Read more
Friday morning with Richard, Wolfgang, Carl and Felix
April 24, 2022 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more
Mozart, Haydn and Schubert according to Umberto Clerici: A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 31, 2022 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The SSO hit the popularity bullseye last night with symphonies by Mozart and Schubert along with Haydn’s trumpet concerto. Read more
Phantom of the Opera: Murray Dahm talks with Naomi Johns
March 25, 2022 by Murray Dahm
Naomi Johns was very excited to be involved in her first-ever Opera Australia publicity when I spoke with her ahead of the opening night of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s Phantom of the Opera production which opens tonight. Read more
La Juive: an opera about the forbidden love between a Jewish woman and Christian man
February 18, 2022 by Features Desk
After pandemic restrictions shut down its scheduled opening in 2020, acclaimed French director Olivier Py’s new production of La Juive will finally have its Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House, this coming March. Read more
Shira Haas hosts IPO 85th anniversary
January 5, 2022 by Features Desk
Marking the 85th anniversary of the founding of Israel’s most revered and respected cultural institutions, the Israel Philharmonic (IPO) has released a unique Film chronicling the IPO’s history and its lasting impact on music both within Israel and across the globe. Read more
Come from Away: a musical review by Victor Grynberg
October 28, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
It would not be accurate to describe “Come from Away” as simply a musical. Read more
Aida: Tragic love story is operatic triumph – an opera review by Victor Grynberg
June 24, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
Re-staged in Sydney for the first time since its amazing success in 2018 this digital backgrounded production of Giuseppe Verdi’s blockbuster reached even greater heights this season. Read more
Clerici was going to swap his bow for a baton: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing of a phantom concert
June 23, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Covid wiped out tonight’s concert, much to my disappointment. Read more
Big blasts from Beethoven and Brahms: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
June 17, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
In last night’s Sydney Town Hall concert, Brahms was ranked above Beethoven – when the SSO performed Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C major, Op. 56, before intermission, with Brahms Symphony No. 3 in F Major in prime-time after. Read more
Vox out of the box: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 23, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs could hardly have offered a more popular choral work than Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana as the centrepiece of their concert in the Sydney Town Hall yesterday. Read more
Lots of luscious Ludwig: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 13, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The lure of familiar Beethoven was probably enough to virtually covid-fill the Town Hall last night, but for those with more contemporary tastes, there were a couple of works for their corner too. Read more
Tear drops and wrecking balls: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
April 22, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
While most of my reviews cover the SSO Masters Series (the substantial concerts that are sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent) every so often I am tugged by the heartstrings to an SSO Symphony Hour performance supported by Credit Suisse. Read more
Violetta dies, but La Traviata will live forever: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
March 30, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
Two of the most popular operas of all time are Giacomo Puccini’s LA BOHEME and Giuseppe Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA. Read more
Incidental music on the way to heaven: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 14, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Although I’ve often heard the full-strength Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in the Sydney Opera House, it was nearly always teamed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in some major, combination work. Read more
One of the best: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
February 26, 2021 by Fraser McEwing
Like a rich layer of icing on a cake that may not have been to everybody’s taste, the SSO sent us home last night haunted by Saint-Saens Symphony No.3, the much loved ‘organ symphony’. Read more
A flying start despite Covid: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
February 11, 2021 by Fraser Beath McEwing
“What a privilege it is to make music again” violin soloist Daniel Rohn called to the Covid-thinned Town Hall audience last night before embarking on his stunning Bach encore. Read more
The Merry Widow: an operetta review by Victor Grynberg
January 6, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
So there we were in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House, about to see our first Opera Australia production since their magnificent production of the early Verdi masterpiece “Attila” had its season dramatically curtailed by the arrival of COVID fears 10 months ago. Read more
What are you doing on Tuesday evening?
December 14, 2020 by Arts Editor
Tune in at 7.30pm tomorrow night for a free digital concert performed by AWO colleagues and two stellar visual artists. Read more
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
