In reviewing student or 'non-professional' opera productions, some allowances can be made, but not too many. In the case of Con Opera's production of Cosi fan tutte the pressure to make allowances is minimal. And with this work the music is so glorious that one can...
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony is immensely enduring and, as such, very popular. I was, therefore, keen to hear what a predominately wind ensemble would make of it. In preparation I listened to a performance of the Symphony by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by...
It is heartening to report that the Opera School at the Conservatorium is in good voice and demonstrates a few other performance talents too. The Fairy Queen by Purcell is characterised as a semi-opera: a series of masques that took place between acts of a version of...
The Marais project has been going for 15 years. It is dedicated to performing the complete works of Marin Marais and other work written for the viola da gamba. I finally caught up with it recently and Marais was the centrepiece of the program. We were taken into the...
The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is one of the better-known non-auditioned choirs in Sydney, led by the enthusiastic and adventurous Michelle Leonard. Before the concert she told us that doing Israel in Egypt was a 'bit of stretch' for the choir. Indeed in the...
Near perfect venue The Cell Block Theatre is near perfect for showing off this group's considerable capacities. It was the women's prison in the original Sydney gaol. The outline of the staircase and the small dimensions of the former cells can be seen. This, all in...
Sweeney Todd is about obsession. Todd is obsessed with revenge. Mrs Lovett is obsessed with respectability and Judge Turpin is obsessed with his ward Joanna. They will all do what ever it takes! Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Miller's realisation of these obsessions is the...
Blending does not require being sonic wall flowers One can anticipate three characteristics of a Bel a Cappella concert: the ensemble will be well prepared the program will be well constructed Musical Director Anthony Pasquill will have his heart firmly placed on his...
Lyle Chan is an established Australian composer. In the 1980s and 1990s he was an AIDS activist: a significant member of the organisation ACTUP both in the USA and Australia. ACTUP was militant and the provocatively witty proponents of people with AIDS and HIV:...
A farewell concert can be both a joyous and sad occasion. On Saturday 24 May there was a lot of joy, much love and a suitable modicum of lamentation in the room prior to the departure of mezzo soprano, Sophia Mitchell, to undertake further study at the Guildhall...