Sydney Opera House Sydney Symphony Orchestra Saturday 17 May 2025 Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Conductor, Elim Chan, is one of the most exciting guest conductors the Sydney Symphony has worked under in some time. While slight in stature, her enthusiasm is contagious and large, her focus acute; her physicality elicited a great depth […]
Australian Chamber Orchestra Carolina Eyck (theremin) City Recital Hall Saturday 10 May 2025 Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) “The Theremin is often thought of as a novelty, but in the masterly hands of Carolina Eyck it becomes an instrument of classical majesty and contemporary brilliance.” (ACO program guide by Shaad D’Souza) This was the […]
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Sydney Opera House Friday 9 May 2025 Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Daniel Lozakovich is definitely a name to watch, as the star of this 24 year old Swedish violinist is sure to rise as he embarks on his solo career. His exotic good looks that stem from his Kyrgyzstan mother […]
Read More… from Review: Daniel Lozakovich performs Sibelius’ Violin Concerto
Saturday 22 March 2025 Loading Dock Theatre Qtopia James Elazzi is one of Australia’s freshest theatrical voices and his new play, Saints of Damour firmly cements his place as a – I want to say great but maybe it’s too early for that – let’s say formidable Australian playwright. His ability to mine the emotional […]
Thursday 6 March 2025 Sydney Symphony Orchestra Sydney Opera House London born conductor, Finnegan Downie Dear lead the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in tonight’s program of Ravel and Brahms. A one-time assistant to Simone Young, his tall lean frame leant itself to garnering a wide range of emotions and nuances from the musicians. And as SSO […]
Read More… from Review: James Ehnes performs Brahms’ Violin Concerto
Friday, 28 February, 2025. Sydney Opera House. Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Andrew Haveron (violin) It’s been a while since I’ve heard Carl Vine’s music in the concert hall. He’s been sorely missed since he relinquished the role of artistic Director at Musica Viva Australia, and now that he’s not busy running one of the world’s largest […]
Saturday 1 March 2025 Belvoir St Upstairs “Those who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it.” George Santayana These famous words, fittingly penned by Madrid-born Spanish-American philosopher, Santayana, are at the crux of this riveting, powerful real life drama. In Song of First Desire we are thrown head-long into the Spanish Civil War. We […]
Wednesday 15 January 2025 Carriageworks Modern Convict Films Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) That would have to have been the most unusual melange to begin a theatrical work I have ever seen. Brendan Cowell, Ewen Leslie and Toby Schmitz are the writers and performers in a bizarre comedy called Hamlet Camp, performed in the […]
Friday 10 January 2025 Hayes Theatre Antipodes Theatre Company Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Ghost Quartet is a musical that tells the tale of four friends conjuring spirits (both supernatural and alcoholic) as they narrate four diverse stories spanning seven centuries. Expect a high level of musicianship from an incredibly talented cast. Sometimes melancholic, […]
Arts Wednesday begins a preview of the Sydney Festival interviewing a variety of artists in many genres. We begin this week chatting to Stephanie Lake who is the Resident Choreographer of The Australian Ballet and is one of the most innovative Australian choreographers to emerge in the last decade. She created the international hits Colossus and Manifesto(smash successes […]
Read More… from Arts Wednesday previews the 2025 Sydney Festival
Wednesday 13 November 2024 City Recital Hall Australian Chamber Orchestra Sean Shibe (guitars) The reason we go to see the Australian Chamber Orchestra is for musical excellence, innovative programming and mind-stretching new music. For some, Scotland Unbound with Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe might have exposed their limits of tolerance, but for many it was a […]
Tuesday 12 November 2024 Seymour Centre Soft Tread Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) It is with mixed emotions that we say farewell to a 25 year old theatre institution, the Wharf Revue. Writers Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott have decided to call it a day to “spend more time with family” and […]