WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO | This series, introduced in our classikON What’s ON (subscribe here), shares our Ambassadors thoughts at this time. They are voices of the audience, with a range of knowledge and history with music, for some…
The Independent Theatre’s Café Culture Series is a wonderful way to cheer a Sunday afternoon
The Café Culture Series is a new concept from the Independent Theatre, with the performance taking place amongst the arches and mirrors in their beautiful foyers, rather than inside the auditorium. We relaxed with delicious coffee (included in the ticket…
The Idea of North thoroughly entertained with their Prelude in Tea performance
The full house at the Independent Theatre indicated that an enthusiastic crowd knew it would be a great idea to see The Idea of North in North Sydney this sunny Sunday afternoon. After coffee and cake in the foyer, we…
Sarah Grunstein’s intimate recital showcased her passionate playing
The Utzon Room was filled to capacity when Sarah Grunstein introduced the sonatas she would perform in her recital this warm Thursday evening. She explained how Beethoven’s Sonata No.15 in D Major, Op.28 was the last piano sonata he wrote using…
With Sara Macliver, the Australian Haydn Ensemble stunningly interpret the Delirium of Love
After a picnic lunch in the sunny Botanic Gardens, it was only a small step in the imagination to be transported to an eighteenth-century garden to listen to Scarlatti’s Concerto Grosso No. 3 from Six concerti in seven parts, which…
Ironwood opened the inaugural Eastside Sydney Music Festival to riotous applause
The rain momentarily eased in time to celebrate the opening concert of the inaugural Eastside Sydney Music Festival. Featuring Ironwood at the Paddington Town Hall, this was the first of 10 musical events in interesting venues around Paddington, to be…
Australia Ensemble’s “Cool Fire” a concert of contrasts
The newly refurbished foyer of the Sir John Clancy Auditorium provided a welcoming grand entrance for the Australia Ensemble’s fourth subscription concert of 2019, Cool Fire. The concert was themed around contrasts not only within the works themselves (especially the…
Bel a cappella’s superbly sung concert beautifully balanced abstract with descriptive works
Entering the beautiful Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the heights above Manly suitably prepared me for an afternoon of soaring voices and close harmonies from Bel a cappella. They began with their backs to the audience, singing John Cage’s ear…
Ironwood presented divine & distinctive string quartets in their program, “Prussian Frogs & Bohemian Princes”
The Paddington Uniting Church provided the beautiful venue for Ironwood’s concert Prussian Frogs and Bohemian Princes. It was a cold night, and after extensive warming up of their period instruments, the members of Ironwood performed Haydn’s String Quartet Opus 50…
Tea with the Seraphim Trio – a perfect way to spend a winter’s afternoon
On a winter’s afternoon there is only one thing better than sitting by a sunny window with coffee and cake, anticipating a concert by the Seraphim Trio – the concert itself! Entitled Memories, the Prelude in Tea concert at the…
UNSW’s Winter Gala program curated around women in love, life and musical creativity
I was pleased when the UNSW Winter Gala was moved from the Sir John Clancy Auditorium to the more intimate Tyree Room at the Scientia Building. This made for a convivial, cosy atmosphere, as rugged-up enthusiasts had the pleasure of…
Australian Haydn Ensemble with a French Twist
On Sunday June 2, the Australian Haydn Ensemble performed an interesting program with a “French Twist” at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney. This included works with a French connection by Mozart and Haydn, paired with works by little known…