Incidental music on the way to heaven: a music review 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

Last Kings of Shanghai: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

There are many who will read this review who would have heard of the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara who issued some 1800 visas in Kovno in 1940 which enabled the holders to transit Japan and spend the war years in Shanghai. Read more

Bluebeard’s Castle: Sumegi’s vocal mastery a triumph

Bela Bartok, the most famous of the 20^th Century Hungarian composers only wrote one opera, a one-hour one-act piece with only two singers, Bluebeard and his new wife Judit…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more

One of the best: a music review by Fraser Beath 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

The Miracle Typist: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

Leon Silver’s The Miracle Typist is a powerful true story of one soldier’s long journey home. Read more

Tosca: Puccini’s masterpiece even better under John Bell’s direction

Since its premiere in Rome in 1900 at a time of political unrest, Giacomo Puccini’s opera of the Vincent Sardou French-language play “La Tosca” has been one of the most popular pieces in the whole operatic repertoire…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more

A flying start despite Covid: a music review 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

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?

Tune in at 7.30pm tomorrow night for a free digital concert performed by AWO colleagues and two stellar visual artists. Read more

The Freedom Circus: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

As the years pass by and the number of survivors dwindles, the stream of Holocaust-themed books continues to gush. Read more

Happy birthday Ludwig : a music review 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

Reason to Believe: The Controversial Life of Rabbi Louis Jacobs

It seems strange that I received this book on the day I heard about the death of Jonathan Sacks, the Emeritus Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogue of the United Kingdom…writes Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen. Read more

Opera Australia to return to the Sydney Opera House in January

Opera Australia will return to the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage for the first time since the coronavirus shut down its 2020 season in March, today announcing a three-month COVID-safe season that includes two productions never before performed by the Company. Read more

Fraser Beath McEwing reports: What the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has in store for 2021

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

Heart of Violence: Why People Harm Each Other – a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

Paul Valent brings two unique interests in writing this book. Not only was he the long-serving President of the Child Holocaust Survivors Melbourne but he has been a major voice in the study of Trauma and Founder of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Read more

The Order: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

This is Dan Silva’s twenty-third novel and as usual features as its chief protagonist is Gabriel Allon who is not only head of Israel’s secret service, the Mossad, but also an art restorer. Read more

Behind the South African Festival

Claire Jankelson and Di Singer are the directors of the South African Film Festival. Claire answers questions for J-Wire. Read more

Lie back and listen to Ludwig: a didn’t-happen music review 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

The Yellow Bird Sings: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

I seem to have become our esteemed editor’s go-to guy when he needs someone to crit books about the Holocaust. Read more

Impressions from, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Debussy – and the Sydney Town Hall: a music review from 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

Faust: McVicar’s devilish take on classic opera…an opera review by Victor Grynberg

One of France’s greatest ever composers, Charles Gounod had an immediate hit on his hands when his opera Faust finally premiered in Paris in 1859. Read more

A Universe of Sufficient Size: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

At the first Limmud-Oz I gave a presentation on Holocaust Novels: Fact from Fiction. It posed the possibility that some holocaust novels appear so real and some true stories seem to be pieces of fiction. Read more

Don Giovanni: singers shine in Mozart masterpiece

Don Giovanni is the tale brought to Mozart by his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte when he was looking for a story to follow his great success with The Marriage Of Figaro writes Victor Grynberg. Read more

Just Mercy: a movie review by James Bernardinelli

Just Mercy is the kind of high-minded tale about social injustice that often opens around this time of the year. Read more

Bombshells: a movie review by James Bernardinelli

As a dramatic re-creation of the events leading up to the July 2016 ouster of Fox News honcho Roger Ailes, Bombshell is effective cinema. Read more

Present Tense by Natalie Conyer: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

In Bereishit, the first reading of the Torah, Eve picks a fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, despite the Almighty’s specific prohibition. Read more

John Bell’s Havana colours bring extra delight To Carmen: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

George Bizet died tragically at only 37 years of age, after 33 mixed-reviewed performances of his Spanish-themed opera Carmen. Read more

Mengele: Unmasking the Angel of Death – a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

In receiving this book, it brought back to me two issues. Read more

1917: a movie review by James Bernardinelli

When it comes to 20th-century wars, World War I, the so-called “Great War” or “War to End All Wars,” is poorly represented in motion pictures. Read more

La Boheme: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

A summertime favourite at the Opera House almost every year, La Boheme received that rare Sydney accolade, an almost total standing ovation after this year’s opening night. Read more

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