Kindertransport – a theatre review by David Kary
We need to step outside of ourselves and into the ‘shoes’ of another human being to truly understand and accept them. Read more
Prince Bettliegend in Sydney
August 7, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
Sydney is hosting the world premiere reconstruction of Prince Bettliegend (The Bedridden Prince) next week. Billed as a comic musical revue, it is presented as part of the Seymour Centre’s Great Ideas Performance Series and the Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music’s Out of the Shadows : Rediscovering Jewish Music and Theatre festival.
The Time of Their Lives – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
July 31, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
Like a dish described on a menu, some things don’t always live up to the promise. A road movie with two (very) mature Englishwomen, running away from home and behaving disgracefully, plus the promise of late life romance, sounded delicious.
Australian World Orchestra’s chamber spin-off…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 26, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
With the veracity and popularity of the Australian World Orchestra now firmly established, its creators, led by conductor Alexander Briger, no doubt feel the need for development. That’s what last night’s chamber music concert was all about. Read more
Mahler’s longest – but worth the wait: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 20, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The perceived popularity of Mahler’s third symphony was illustrated by the SSO scheduling four performances, three of them in its APT Master Series – rare for any work. The first, in the Opera House last night, vindicated the decision, with a virtually full house which was rewarded with an outstanding musical event. Read more
Out of the Shadows: rediscovering Jewish music and theatre
July 4, 2017 by Community newsdesk
Music and theatrical works of Jewish refugee artists fleeing fascist persecution in the 1930s and 1940s will be rediscovered in a one-off festival staged by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Seymour Centre next month. Read more
A bit of Bach and a bunch of Brahms…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 4, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A hearty main meal had been prepared for Brahms lovers, but not before Israeli/American pianist, Orli Shaham, had served up a substantial starter of Bach. Read more
Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich
July 3, 2017 by Stevie Whitmont
The last of a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis…this month features Erwin Schulhoff [1894-1942]. Read more
And then along came Yuja: a music review
June 30, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
What started out as a ‘special event’ SSO concert, then fell in a hole when the star attraction pulled out, finished up as a roaring success – thanks to a sexy Chinese girl pianist in a stunning, partly see-through evening dress…writes Fraser Beath McEwing Read more
The Australian World Orchestra returns
June 22, 2017 by J-Wire News Service
The Australian World Orchestra (AWO) has announced two major performance events for their 2017 season, with internationally renowned conductor Simone Young returning to lead musicians from the AWO and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in a spectacular one-off performance of Olivier Messiaen’s orchestral masterpiece Turangalîla-Symphonie at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. Read more
Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich
June 17, 2017 by Stevie Whitmont
Continuing a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis…this month features Darius Mihaud (1892-1974). Read more
Hard at the top: Fraser Beath McEwing meets composer Elena Kats-Chernin
June 12, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Composing classical music is a fraught occupation and Elena Kats-Chernin is not exempt from feeling its pressure. Read more
Wonder Woman – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
June 2, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
As I have been pleasantly surprised before by films I might not have considered my ‘thing’, I did not hesitate to give this action sci-fi fantasy a go.
Tsujii set the feet stamping…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
May 23, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Japanese pianist, Nobuyuki Tsujii, sent the usually reserved Sydney Recital Hall audience into rapturous applause last night, and it wasn’t because he has been able to totally conquer the restrictions of blindness from birth. Read more
From matzo balls to footballs
May 18, 2017 by Arts Editor
Yvette Wroby has written a love story about family and footy, a story which involves both matzo balls and footballs. Read more
Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
May 18, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
Shlemazel* is the best Yiddish word to describe Norman.
The Sense of an Ending – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
May 16, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
British actors can do grumpy old men really well, and the protagonist here is very good at it.
Don’t Tell – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
May 14, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
Paedophilia may not sound like the subject for a night out at the movies, but director Tori Garrett has created a compelling Australian tale of lost innocence.
Whiteley – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
May 8, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
“Somewhere between struggle and rage there’s IT” said Brett Whiteley in this documentary charting his life, work and death.
Dunera Boy still working in steel…at 101
May 8, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
Former Dunera Boy, abstract sculptor Erwin Fabian, continues to work his magic with steel. Seven of his large metal sculptures have been unveiled at an exhibition in Sydney. Read more
Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich
May 4, 2017 by Stevie Whitmont
Continuing a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis…this month features Bertholdt Goldschmidt (1903-1996). Read more
The Zookeeper’s Wife: A movie review by James Berardinelli
May 2, 2017 by James Berardinelli - Reelviews
Not every movie about the Holocaust is expected to be on the same high level as Sophie’s Choice or Schindler’s List, but (especially when the source material is factual) more is expected than the familiar melodrama and faux tension delivered by Niki Caro’s The Zookeeper’s Wife. Read more
Mozart with differences: Fraser Beath McEwing report from New York
April 21, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
My reviews usually come from the Sydney Opera House but this time I’m reporting from Carnegie Hall in New York on a J-Wire special assignment. Read more
Klezmatics and David Krakauer heading to Australia
April 16, 2017 by Geoff Sirmai
In news for lovers of Jewish music, Sydney is set to thrill to a double dose of the finest international world music stars in the genre. Read more
Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich
April 7, 2017 by Stevie Whitmont
Continuing a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis…this month features Adolf Busch (1891-1952). Read more
A night of rich rewards…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 30, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A blend of Johannes Brahms and Richard Strauss provided an uplifting SSO concert last night. I dips me lid to the programmers. Read more
A history of Jews in the military
March 26, 2017 by J-Wire
Mark Dapin’s new book Jewish Anzacs: Jews in the Australian Military will be released next month. Read more
Land of Mine – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
March 22, 2017 by Roz Tarszisz
A story about removal of land mines doesn’t make for easy viewing but this fine film is more about hope than hell.
Uncommon music for the common man…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 15, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
Calling its program ‘Symphony for the Common Man’, the SSO presented music by Ford, Rachmaninov and Copeland in an interesting mix of Australian, Russian and American composers. Read more
“Smitten by Catherine”: A book review by Ron Jontof-Hutter
March 15, 2017 by Romy Leibler
Henry Lew has written a colourful book about Catherine da Costa bringing to life the times in which she lived and describing her world in interesting and compelling detail. Read more
