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

Antisemitism and racism capture attention in Armageddon Time

A new, sensitive, coming-of-age story highlighting the African American and Jewish experience is a vehicle to propel two bright young actors onto the world stage. They talk with J-Wire. Read more

Alex First reviews Romeo and Juliet performed by the Australian Ballet

 After a 19-year hiatus, the emotion-charged, highly acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet by choreographer John Cranko takes centre stage at Arts Centre Melbourne. Read more

The Meeting: a theatre review by Alex First

A secret imaginary rendezvous between two towering but polar opposite African American leaders plays out in The Meeting. Read more

Ghost Stories: a theatre review by Alex First

An engaging professor of parapsychology talks us through the history of ghost stories – how they came to be and how they have evolved over time. Read more

Cyrano: a theatre review by Alex First

A massive triumph. The MTC production of the season. A talented cast, headlined by writer and star Virginia Gay proves that the pen is mightier than the sword. 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

How a Jewish girl went into hiding with a Nazi family

It is the last winter before Germany’s capitulation. The seventeen-year-old Anni Gmitruk walks alongside a man wearing a swastika armband. It’s dark, and the snow crackles under their shoes. They have just been to the cinema in Zerbst, a small city deep in the Third Reich, to see Heimkehr, a classic among Nazi propaganda films. 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

Shake Rattle ‘N’ Roll: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A cavalcade of song, movement and colour, Shake Rattle ‘N’ Roll breathes new life into the sounds of the ‘50s and ’60s with entertainment aplenty. 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

The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith, and the Talmud – reviewed by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

Maggie Anton has introduced us to a number of stories around Jewish life, beginning with her series on Rashi’s Daughters [3 novels] followed by Rav Hisda’s Daughter [2 novels] and one about personal relationships {Fifty Shades of Talmud]. Read more

Anna K: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

By their very nature, human relationships are often messy. The vast majority don’t hit the headlines, but public figures are considered “fair game”. Read more

Hairspray: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

The spark burns brightly in Hairspray, a delightfully breezy musical with discrimination as its theme. 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

Laurinda: A Melbourne Theatre Company production reviewed by Alex First

Bullying and racism are not acceptable in any environment and yet the schoolyard can be a hotbed of discontent. Read more

I am Emilia Bassano: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

What’s the truism? Behind every great man, there is a woman. 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

The Marvellous Life of Carlo Gatti: A theatre review by Alex First

A pianist from an ice cream parlour (Connor Dariol), a psychologist (Shamita Siva) and a physicist (El Kiley) get together. Read more

The Importance of Being Jewish: a theatre review by Alex First

A romp, The Importance of Being Jewish showcases playwright Rob Selzer’s insight and wit. Read more

Portrait of an Unknown Woman: book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

This is Daniel Silva’s twenty-fifth novel and the 22^nd, with Gabriel Allon as the chief protagonist. 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

Antarctica: An IMAX movie reviewed by Alex First

While it is the coldest place on Earth, where temperatures plunge to as low as 90 degrees below zero and the water temperature is freezing, Antarctica is a surfeit of riches. Read more

Unsolicited Male: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A boss oversteps the mark and the consequences are devastating in Ron Elisha’s incendiary Unsolicited Male. Read more

Where the Crawdads Sing: a movie review by Alex First

A young woman whose life has been a series of letdowns faces the possibility of the death penalty after being charged with the first-degree murder of her former lover. 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

Caligula (Burning House) at Theatre Works, as reviewed by Alex First

There will be blood. That expression well sums up the tyrannical reign of Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as Caligula. He was the third Roman emperor, who ruled from the years 37 to 41, before he was assassinated. 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

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