Picturesque, to say the least: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Last night’s Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s APT Master Series concert was all about creating dramatic sound pictures, some clearly subtitled, some borrowed form the Russian Orthodox Church and the rest a challenging kaleidoscope from a contemporary American female composer. Read more

The Dead Still Cry Out: The Story of a Combat Cameraman: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

As a young girl playing in her home in England one day, Helen Lewis opened an old, apparently hidden suitcase. Read more

The Man in the Attic: a theatre review by Hila Tsor

Emotive and powerful, written by Timothy Daly, directed by Moria Blumenthal and produced by Shalom and Moria Blumenthal Productions, The Man in the Attic presents a deep piece to the Sydney audience. Read more

Rigoletto: Tragedy and melody in triumph: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

This 17^th of the 37 operas that Verdi wrote, arguably has the best score of all his masterpieces. Read more

Back to Burgundy – a move review by Roz Tarszisz

My French is not that flash but I think the French title –  Ce qui nous lie ­– could have been given a more literary translation. Read more

The Secret Singer

Multi-award-winning darlings of the Australian stage and screen, Genevieve Lemon and Kate Mannix star in the world premiere season of a joyful new musical play – based on a true story – by Joanna Weinberg (Goddess, Pandora’s Bag, Lifeforce, The Piano Diaries). Read more

The unexpected from Simon Trpčeski: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Those who have followed the career of Macedonian pianist, Simon Trpčeski, might have expected a program of at least some popular technical showpieces for his solo concert in the Sydney Recital Hall last night. Read more

Singers shine in Lucia di Lammermoor: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

Exquisite singing was the memorable takeout of the re-staging of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House. Read more

Zbaraz: a community extinguished…a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

Once there was a land called Galicia, which straddled the modern-day border between Poland and Ukraine. Read more

Play it again, Avan: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Avan Yu, winner of the 2012 Sydney Piano Competition, was invited back to play a concert at the Sydney Con last night. Read more

An evening with Sir Andrew Davis, Anne-Sophie Mutter and the MSO

The Melbourne Symphony orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis played a memorable concert on Saturday evening…writes Ron Jontof-Hutter. Read more

Anne-Sophie Mutter with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra: a music review by Victor Grynberg

On her third visit in just six years, arguably the world’s leading violinist, Anne-Sophie Mutter clearly wanted to share her ability with a delighted Sydney audience. Read more

Foxtrot: a movie review by Hila Tsor

I’ve never had a movie make me feel in that same way Foxtrot had. I begun crying 10 minutes into the film, and my tears kept rolling right through till the end. Read more

DRESDEN by Justin Fleming: J-Wire has giveaways

“That was the hour it all began!” Read more

August: Osage County – a theatre review by Hila Tsor

Love vs solitude lays at the heart of August: Osage County. Read more

An evening with the MSO and Thomas Hampson singing Mahler: a music review by Ron Jontof-Hutter

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presented a more unusual type of program consisting of three tone poems and a song cycle rather than the traditional overture, concerto, symphony format. Read more

People of the Boot: the triumphs and tragedies of Australian Jews in Sport…a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

‘People of the Boot’ is a neat pun as the title of a book about Australian Jews’ contribution to their country’s – and international – sporting life. Read more

Eliyahu’s Mistress: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

Melbourne lawyer Roger Mendelson has chosen a demanding subject for his debut novel ‘Eliyahu’s Mistress’. Read more

Unlocking the Past: Stories from my Mother’s Diary – book review by Jeffrey Cohen

This book, for it is a little larger than a monograph, tells the story of Shira’s mum and her journey in Jerusalem (and getting there and back) as she pursues her PhD at the Hebrew University. Read more

Bye Bye Germany (Es war einmal in Deutschland): a movie review by Ron Jontof-Hutter

Sam Garlanski’s film, “Bye Bye Germany“  based on Michel Bergmann’s autobiographical novel is an entertaining addition to Holocaust stories, though this one is set in 1946 Frankfurt. Read more

An evening of Mozart: a music review by Ron Jontof-Hutter

 

The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic and the Melbourne University Choral Society presented an all-Mozart program at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Read more

Symphony of Seduction: A book review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Celebrity love affairs have always attracted public interest, especially when the participants are in the creative arts. It is in this light that we look for pre and post bed (or elsewhere) techniques that might be interpreted as extensions of the artistic pursuit. Read more

Breath: a film review by Ben Apfelbaum

Simon Baker’s  much-anticipated debut feature BREATH held its Sydney premiere recently at Randwick Ritz. Read more

Australian World Orchestra is among the best: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

The choice of two major symphonies by Brahms and Tchaikovsky gave the Australian World Orchestra the chance to shine at the Sydney Opera House last night. And shine it did. Read more

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society: a movie review by Glen Falkenstein

The most British thing since the last Lily James Second World War drama, The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (hereafter mercifully referred to as ‘Guernsey’) is, thankfully, a great deal better. Read more

A unique concert opportunity

Although the now celebrated Australian World Orchestra is scheduled to perform early in May, it is not a symphony orchestra that anybody has ever heard before or will ever hear again…writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

I Feel Pretty: a movie review by Hila Tsor

We’ve all had it drilled into us that beauty is within, and that you should be confident in your own skin. These cliches lay at the heart of the romantic comedy film ‘I Feel Pretty’ directed by Abbey Kohn and Marc Silverstein. Read more

Lesser known works from two great composers: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

If you want a Beethoven mass you’ve only got two choices: the more secularly accessible 1812 Mass in C major, Op.86 or the longer, holier and meatier 1824 Missa Solemnis which the SSO last presented in 2015. Read more

Thou Shalt Innovate: a book review by Elana Bowman

It has been debated and argued that Jews are G-d’s chosen people for two reasons. One is that they honour G-d and the other is Tikkun Olam, an obligation, a duty to help heal or repair the world. Read more

La Bohème: Puccini’s masterpiece of love and loss transfers superbly to Sydney Harbour – reviewed by Victor Grynberg.

This is the sixth opera  since Opera Australia commenced their Operas on the Harbour in 2012 with Carmen repeated last year. Read more

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