Shows
In ConversationNicole Car: From jazz to the silvery moonAn Australian soprano who has established herself as one the leading artists of her generation, Nicole Car is a fixture at all of the world’s top opera houses, be it the Met, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, or the Sydney Opera House. She’s praised for her beautiful, rich timbre and unique musicality, with Limelight magazine speaking recently of her unfailingly clear and strong voice, with lovely tone and silky legato. In this wide-ranging interview, Nicole reflects on her role debut as Rusalka in Dvořák’s opera of the same name...2025-07-0952 min
In ConversationMark Vincent: Songs from the heartOne of Australia’s most beloved tenor crossover artists, Mark Vincent burst into our consciousness thanks to a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma on Australia’s Got Talent in 2009, and never looked back. He has performed in venues around the world, and eight of his albums to date have topped the ARIA Classical Crossover charts. He’s also performed in musical theatre, from Dirty Dancing to My Fair Lady. He’s now performing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, currently playing at Sydney’s Theatre Royal.In this deeply personal and wide-ranging interview, Mark reflects on his extraordinary jou...2025-07-0249 min
In ConversationSam Allchurch: Creating a perfect harmonyConductor and music director Sam Allchurch’s repertoire spans the works of Bach and Handel through to contemporary works by Australian composers. The Sydney Morning Herald said that under his leadership, “Sydney Chamber Choir’s singing is as nuanced and refined as ever, and their spirit abounds in hope”.Sam returns to In Conversation to discuss the Sydney Chamber Choir's 50th anniversary gala, which features Paul Stanhope’s Requiem along with five specially commissioned works from Australian composers. He delves into the choir’s dual focus on early and contemporary music, explains the commissioning process from a conductor’s pe...2025-06-2551 min
In ConversationEamonn Dougan: Adventures of a choral chihuahuaAssociate Conductor of The Sixteen, Eamonn Dougan has built a reputation as an inspirational communicator with a wide-ranging and adventurous repertoire. In addition to his work with The Sixteen, he is the founding director of Britten Sinfonia Voices and Music Director of the Thomas Tallis Society. The website Bachtrack perhaps sums him up best, praising his “remarkable knack for finding the perfect balance between allowing the emotion time to speak, while keeping everything moving.”In this conversation, Eamonn shares his passion for unearthing overlooked musical treasures, including the rich and rarely heard repertoire of the Polish Baroque. He spe...2025-06-1154 min
In ConversationLuke Spicer: The making of a modern maestroOne of Australia’s foremost young conductors, Luke Spicer has appeared as guest conductor of the Tasmanian, Queensland, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and as a conductor and music director with Opera Australia. He’s also been guest Assistant Conductor at the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, the Saarländisches Staatstheater of Saarbrücken, and with the Sydney Symphony, working with both Simone Young and Vladimir Ashkenazy.In this conversation, Luke reflects on his journey from violinist to violist to conductor, influenced by formative experiences including a pivotal moment in Bathurst. He recounts studying under demanding mentors like Gianluigi Gelmetti, and hi...2025-06-0448 min
In ConversationSusannah Lawergren: Singing across centuriesSusannah Lawergren has developed a reputation as a beautifully clear soprano with “stunning vocal expression” and “compelling stagecraft”. A principal artist with both The Song Company and Bach Akadamie Australia, she’s also performed with our other top ensembles, from Sydney Chamber Choir and Opera Australia, to Cantillation and Ensemble Offspring, plus has appeared at the Sydney and Adelaide Festivals and the Canberra International Music Festival.In this conversation, Susannah speaks candidly about her musical upbringing and studies, and reflects on the unique qualities of singing in different languages, explaining how language profoundly shapes vocal expression. We hear about...2025-05-2848 min
In ConversationSally-Anne Russell: Phantom phases to passion projectsOne of Australia’s finest mezzo-sopranos, multi-award-winner Sally-Anne Russell has a career spanning over 80 operatic roles and performances on some of the world's most prestigious stages. She is celebrated for her rich, expressive voice and captivating artistry. From Baroque masterpieces to contemporary works, Sally-Anne has enchanted audiences across the globe. She’s worked with luminaries from Bryn Terfel and Sumi Jo, to our own Richard Gill and Simone Young, and appears on over 40 albums and DVDs. Sally-Anne recounts her early beginnings in Adelaide, including her shift from aspiring dancer to opera singer, and her unusually young entry into...2025-05-2147 min
In ConversationAli McGregor: Runaway sopranoDescribed as a renegade opera star and cabaret artist, Ali McGregor began her career as a principal soprano with Opera Australia before running away to the circus to become an award winning cabaret performer. Nominated for an ARIA in 2014, she went on to win both a Green Room and Helpmann Award in 2015. She’s one of the most in-demand performers on the international festival circuit and is a former artist director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, performing at venues from Glastonbury and Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House.She’s currently collaborating with the Signum Saxophone Quar...2025-05-071h 04
In ConversationLerida Delbridge: A community of musicAs Assistant Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, violinist Lerida Delbridge is a vital cornerstone of our classical music scene. She also has a passion for chamber music as a founding member of the Tinalley String Quartet, which has performed internationally and been the recipient of numerous awards. She has recently taken on the role of artistic director of Hunters Hill Music, which brings outstanding chamber music closer to audiences.In this wide-ranging conversation, Lerida discusses her multifaceted musical life, reflecting on her early musical influences, international study experiences, and the challenges and triumphs of building a...2025-04-2346 min
A Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with pianist Matthew ThomsonMatthew Thomson is an award-winning pianist, composer and educator based in Sydney, Australia. Having won the prestigious National Jazz Awards in 2021, Matthew continues to build a profile as one of Australia’s prominent Jazz pianists. In 2016, Matthew completed his Bachelor's degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with 1st Class Honours, and soon afterwards was granted a scholarship to complete his Master's of Music at the New England Conservatory in Boston, studying under the American jazz pianist, composer and educator Jason Moran.During his time in America, Matthew performed alongside musical luminaries including Dave...2025-04-2033 min
A Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with pianist /composer Matthew ThompsonMatthew Thomson is an award-winning pianist, composer and educator based in Sydney, Australia. Having won the prestigious National Jazz Awards in 2021, Matthew continues to build a profile as one of Australia’s prominent Jazz musicians.2025-04-1838 min
In ConversationKathryn Selby AM: Chamber music, big ambitionsA pianist dubbed both as a “formidable talent” as well as “Australia’s pre-eminent chamber music pianist”, Kathryn Selby has performed with orchestras and chamber groups around the world, most extensively throughout Australia and North America. For nearly 15 years she was the anchor of the Macquarie Trio, which made many recordings, several of which were nominated for the Best Classical Album ARIA award. She’s perhaps most familiar to us now as the name behind the popular series of chamber music recitals, Selby and Friends which the Sydney Morning Herald has described as “chamber music at its best”.Kathy talks ab...2025-03-2659 min
In ConversationAdrian Tamburini: Surfing the road to hellBass/baritone Adrian Tamburini has enjoyed a long and varied career in opera, musical theatre, and also as a director and producer. He has won two Green Room Awards, the second for his performance in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, and has also been the winner of Australia’s most prestigious singing award, the Australian Opera Award. His voice features on international recordings, in cinema, and on radio and TV. He’s appeared in a raft of productions for opera companies around the country. On top of that, he’s a music educator and also a champion of new Australian...2025-03-1257 min
In ConversationBobby Fox: An Irish boyBobby Fox is best known for originating the role of Frankie Valli in the Australian production of Jersey Boys. He has appeared in many other musical theatre productions, including Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Spamalot, Oklahoma and Sweet Charity, amongst others, and he received a Helpmann nomination for his role in Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins which played at both the Hayes and the Sydney Opera House. He also has a shuffle in his shoes, having been a part of Riverdance as well as a four time World Irish Dance Champion. He has released the album The Fantastic Mr Fox.Bo...2025-03-0559 min
In ConversationMargarita Balanas: Painting layers of musicLatvian cellist and conductor Margarita Balanas has played at venues around the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. She’s performed as soloist with the Munich Philharmonic and the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra among many others, and conducted orchestras including the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, and is the founder and music director of the ANONIMI orchestra and charity.As children, Margarita and her siblings raised money by busking in order to afford the travel and entry fees to be able to play in competitions. Her incredible tenacity and motivation took her to Lo...2025-02-1947 min
In ConversationAmy Manford: Tales as old as timeSoprano, actress and producer Amy Manford has delighted audiences young and old with her gorgeous voice and magnetic stage presence. Audiences will recall her highly acclaimed run as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Arts Centre, having already played the role in the West End. She’s performed with Andrea Bocelli and for the British Royal Family. She’s also quite the arts entrepreneur, having co-founded MM Creative Productions. Their production, Disney in Concert, is back by popular demand, returning to the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne Arts Centre in Ma...2025-01-2944 min
In ConversationCédric Tiberghien: Pianist uncagedA French pianist applauded for his versatility and wide-ranging repertoire, Cédric Tiberghien has an openness to explore innovative concert formats and dynamic chamber music partnerships. He’s recorded over 20 solo albums and over 15 collaborative ones, has played concerts and recitals in all parts of the world, with the Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, the London Philharmonic, the Sydney Symphony, among many others.He was fascinated by a grand piano when he was 2 years old, and started lessons as soon as he was able. In this conversation, Cédric takes us through his approach to music and...2025-01-2246 min
In ConversationDaniel Smith: A cultural ambassadorIn Conversation begins a new year with a conductor whose passion for music is irrepressible. Australian born Daniel Smith is now based in Italy, and proudly bears the Italian honour of Australian Cultural Ambassador. Following his highly successful debut with The Mariinsky Orchestra, Daniel has guest conducted the Czech Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, amongst many others.Daniel shares stories of his hard fought career milestones, from cornering maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti in a Sydney Opera House lift to beg him to take him on as a student, to...2025-01-1557 min
In ConversationAnn Carr-Boyd AM: Life is a fandangoComposer Ann Carr-Boyd has helped shape Australian classical composition for over 60 years. She was a trail blazer from the very beginning, being the University of Sydney’s first ever Master of Arts in music. As well as composition, she’s been involved in broadcasting, teaching, as well as lexicography, having contributed to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
We delve into Ann's long lasting and groundbreaking career, to hear the insights of this remarkable contributor to the development of the Australian compositional voice.2024-12-1848 min
In ConversationGraham Abbott: Keys to more than MessiahA conductor beloved by Australian audiences for nearly 50 years, Graham Abbott has conducted all the state symphony orchestras, most of our major opera companies, and many of our choirs. He’s also a well-respected broadcaster, most particularly for the ABC program Keys to Music, and has more recently developed a reputation as one of our premier music tour leaders. After many decades of waving his arms about, he’s decided that he will bring his conducting career to a close with a composer he has dedicated much of his career to and one of the most famous pieces of musi...2024-12-1147 min
In ConversationIrina Morozova: Nothing is foreverViolist Irina Morozova has a long and distinguished career, including as principal viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and guest principal of the Sydney Symphony and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras. But it's as part of the Goldner String Quartet that she and her fellow musicians Dene Olding, Dimity Hall and Julian Smiles, have found a significant place in the hearts of Australia's classical music lovers.
Long been considered Australia’s pre-eminent string quartet, the Goldners are considered among the best quartets in the world. They’ve recorded 19 albums covering repertoire from Beetho...2024-12-0448 min
In ConversationVasily Petrenko: Rites of a conductorA conductor renowned for his dynamic interpretations and exceptional leadership, Vasily Petrenko has firmly established himself as one of the most compelling conductors of our time. Currently the Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, after his 15 year stint as chief conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, his illustrious career spans collaborations with some of the world’s finest orchestras and opera companies including the Berlin and London Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Gewandhaus, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, among many others.
Vasily talks about his upbringing in the then-USSR, and speaks wit...2024-11-2752 min
In ConversationPhillip Scott: The End of the Wharf as We Know ItPhillip Scott has joyfully been puncturing the inflated egos of this country’s elite for four decades. He does it all – a writer, composer, actor, singer, and musician – skills which come together for satirical comedy shows beginning in the early 1980s with The Gillies Report, morphing into their current guise as The Wharf Revue for the past 25 years. All good things must come to an end, and he and his fellow satirists are presenting their final iteration of the show – The End of the Wharf as We Know It.
Phillip also has a connection with 2MBS Fine Music Sy...2024-11-1354 min
In ConversationSean Shibe: Scottish guitarist unboundA musician described as “the most interesting voice on the guitar for a generation”, Edinburgh-born Sean Shibe is as at home on the electric guitar as he is on the classical acoustic one. Winner of awards including the 2018 Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award and the 2022 Leonard Bernstein Award, he was nominated in 2023 for a Grammy, and continues to prove himself as an original mind at the frontier of contemporary classical music.
In this conversation, Sean demystifies the electric guitar while eloquently introducing us to a deliciously diverse selection of music. He has an inspiring approach to both...2024-11-0645 min
In ConversationAndreas Scholl: Deep thoughts on high notesHe is a counter-tenor loved by audiences around the world. Andreas Scholl has a beautiful pure clarity of voice, gives absolutely divine performances including on his dozens of albums, and he has a wonderful gentle good humour too.
Andreas talks about the discovery of his beautiful counter tenor voice as an adolescent, which inspired him to make music his career. We hear about how his musical development was nurtured and what he has learnt on this journey. We also get to hear his baritone singing voice, which is heard more often than you might think, including on...2024-10-2343 min
A Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with saxophonist and bandleader Sandy Evans
Dr. Sandy Evans is an Australian jazz composer, saxophonist, and bandleader with a career spanning four decades.
Recognition of her work has included receiving an Order of Australia Medal in 2010 for services to music, and in 2014 she was awarded a PhD from Macquarie University and the Vic Chancellors Commendation for Academic Excellence, for her thesis on practice-based research into Carnatic Jazz Intercultural music.
In the same year, she also received a Churchill Fellowship to visit India, and in 2019 she was inducted into the Australian Jazz Bell Awards, Hall of Fame.
A...2024-10-0745 min
In ConversationLisa Moore: Passion for the music of our timeA pianist who The New Yorker described as “New York’s queen of avant-garde piano”, Lisa Moore has performed with the London Sinfonietta, Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney, Canberra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras to name just a few, and has played under the baton of luminaries like Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, David Robertson and Edo de Waart. She’s appeared in venues from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, and been part of over 30 albums.
Lisa has made her career performing music of living composers. In this conversation she speaks with great passion about this music, sharing...2024-10-021h 02
A Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with studio guest pianist/composer Mike Nock.2024-09-2240 min
In ConversationHarry Sdraulig: Composing for the long termA composer who Australian Stage has dubbed “the most interesting voice in Australian composition for many years”, Harry Sdraulig has risen to prominence through a string of collaborations with renowned artists and organisations. He’s composed for The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva, the Australia Ensemble, as well as the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and has also been commissioned by cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Harry shares some great insights and perspectives on the life a composer, and he introduces some of the compositions which have featured at key points of his career.
Harry...2024-09-1856 min
In ConversationTim Draxl: The complete package“The complete package!” is how Tim Draxl has been described for his performance as Joe Gillis in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard, currently playing at the Sydney Opera House. That part is just the latest in a long line of Tim’s roles in his 20-plus year career which has garnered him nominations for AACTAs, Logies, and a Helpmann Award. On stage he has appeared in musicals such as Jagged Little Pill, Into the Woods and Catch Me If You Can. He is a familiar face on TV, most particularly for his long running role in A Place to Call Home...2024-09-1150 min
In ConversationRhonda Burchmore OAM: Habit of a lifetime"Totally embraceable" and "larger than life" is how critics have described Rhonda Burchmore. An actor and singer who has entertained Australians for four decades, she has forged a career across stage and screen. Her musical theatre credits are vast, from Mame and Annie Get Your Gun to Mamma Mia and Hairspray. She’s no stranger to cabaret, has released seven albums, and has also written her autobiography.Rhonda shares some highlights from her long career, taking us back to her earliest days when the passion for performing was clearly in her blood. She reminisces about the excitement an...2024-08-2845 min
In ConversationAndrea Lam: Happiness with a sad pianoAn Australian pianist who has taken the world by storm, Andrea Lam has performed with orchestras across Australia, the US, Japan and China, and in venues from the Sydney Opera House to New York’s Carnegie Hall. Words used to describe her playing include “sensitive”, “riveting” and “mesmerising”, and the Wall Street Journal has pronounced her “a real talent”.Andrea takes us through her upcoming album, Sad Piano, music by Matthew Hindson, who Andrea has been friends with most of her life. We hear about her journey with the piano, her career living and performing in New York, plus the relev...2024-08-2142 min
In ConversationAugustin Hadelich: On an American road tripA violinist known for phenomenal technique, persuasive interpretations, and ravishing tones, Augustin Hadelich has performed across the world. He's appeared with orchestras from the Berlin and London Philharmonics to Tokyo’s NHK Symphony and our own Sydney Symphony Orchestra. His recordings cover a wide range of the violin repertoire, and in 2016 he won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. He has a new album out this month – American Road Trip – and in this program Augustin takes us on that journey through some of the greats of American violin music. He shares with us stories of his life playing the vi...2024-08-1458 min
In ConversationSarah Brightman: Angel of musicInternational icon Sarah Brightman began her stage career at the age of just 13, and never looked back. She’s best known for creating the role of Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera both in the West End and on Broadway, the cast album of which is the highest selling cast album in history. She went on to a stellar recording career, having released dozens of albums. She’s now in Australia, ready for her close up, performing the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.Sarah revisits the early days of her career...2024-08-0746 minA Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with vocalist Alex SiegersAlex Siegers has amassed considerable experience as a performer and an educator across the jazz, sacred, classical and pop genres with leading ensembles throughout Australia.
. She has also worked as an educator, conductor, vocal arranger, arts administrator, arts marketer, and music librarian.
In 2017 she graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
With a Bachelor of Music and Arts, majoring in Jazz Performance, Asian Studies and Linguistics.
Alex was our 2021 Ken Weatherley Jazz Scholarship recipient, here at 2MBS Fine Music Sydney and has just released her debut album, recorded in our Founders St...2024-07-2738 min
In ConversationRod Gilfry: A voice of experienceA two-time Grammy nominee, Rod Gilfry is a singer and actor who performs across opera, musicals, recitals and cabaret, all over the world. His opera repertoire in particular is vast, spanning 75 roles. He’s come to Opera Australia and the Sydney Opera House to perform one of the many roles in new operas that he has created – Claudius in Brett Dean’s Hamlet, directed by Neil Armfield. Rod has already performed this role at the Met in New York and at Glyndebourne in the UK.Rod takes us through his long career which began in school choirs and mus...2024-07-1755 min
A Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with studio guest pianist/composer Felix BornholdtIn the episode pianist/composer Felix Bornholdt talks about his new solo piano recording Man Overboard. 2024-07-1140 minA Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with guest vocalist / bassist Nicki ParrottAustralian bassist and vocalist Nicki Parrott talks about her recording and performance career in New York and Australia.2024-07-1141 minA Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with guest Felix Bornholdt.In this episode pianist/composer Felix Bornholdt talks about his new solo piano recording Man Overboard.2024-07-1140 min
In ConversationJustin Taylor: Making every keyboard singOne of the world’s leading young harpsichordists, Justin Taylor has released numerous award-winning solo recordings, and is one of the founders of the internationally renowned period ensemble, Le Consort. The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s artistic director Paul Dyer calls him "a true master of the harpsichord". He comes to the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra stage to be part of a rare performance of JS Bach’s Concerto for Four Harpsichords.
Justin speaks about the intricacies and subtleties of playing the harpsichord and other period keyboards. He elaborates on how the sound production of original keyboard instruments of differ...2024-07-0346 min
In ConversationAnthony Warlow AM: Adding his signatureA musical theatre actor responsible for some of the most notable performances on our stages, Anthony Warlow began his career with the Australian Opera in 1980. He has since become a household name thanks to his work in The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Annie, My Fair Lady, Jeckyll & Hyde to name only a few, while also performing with Opera Australia for The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, The Pirates of Penzance, and more. He’s performed on Broadway and the West End, and has several albums to his name.In this extended version of the broadcast ed...2024-06-261h 04
In ConversationKatie Noonan: An artist of peaceA singer songwriter who has proven herself as one of this country’s most hard-working, versatile, and prolific artists, Katie Noonan flourishes in every genre. She performs and composes across classical, jazz and rock music. She’s recorded a massive 28 albums, with a 29th on the way, garnering 28 ARIA nominations which have include five wins. Having already been part of her indie rock band George, producing highly successful albums including Polyserena which went triple platinum, she went on to found her jazz trio Elixir. In 2021, she founded the Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ), a vocal quartet with a special focus on new Austr...2024-06-0556 min
In ConversationTeddy Tahu Rhodes: The art of opportunityA much loved baritone from New Zealand, Teddy Tahu Rhodes has captured the hearts of audiences here in Australia and in many parts of the world. An ARIA, Helpmann, and Limelight award-winner, he has given renowned performances in classics such as Don Giovanni and Carmen, and premiere performances in new works including The End of the Affair and Dead Man Walking. He’s performed for Opera Australia, the Metropolitan Opera, the Welsh National Opera and the Bavarian State Opera to name just a few, and regularly sings in concert. Limelight magazine said of his voice “there is a velvet rich...2024-05-1544 min
A Jazz Hour in ConversationA Jazz Hour in Conversation with Matthew ThompsonPianist /composer and bandleader Matthew Thomson chats about his musical journey and influences and his new recording with Tourismo.2024-05-1300 min
In ConversationAudra McDonald: Bringing regards from BroadwayIn Conversation is on location this week at Melbourne's Hamer Hall to speak with an artist who truly deserves the title of Broadway Royalty. Audra McDonald has won six Tony awards – more performance wins than any other actor, and the only person to win for leading and featured roles in both straight theatre and musicals. Her wins include turns in Carousel, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and perhaps most notably, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. She’s featured in many well-loved television shows, such as The Good Fight, and The Gilded Age, as well as featur...2024-05-0858 min
In ConversationNeil Armfield AO: Theatre in the bloodOne of this country’s pre-eminent directors, Neil Armfield has a list of credits which is vast, spanning original works and revived classics, directing shows across the world, including on the West End and on Broadway. He’s also of course no stranger to opera, having directed several productions for Opera Australia, as well as for some of the world’s other great opera houses including Covent Garden and the English National Opera. A founder and former artistic director of Belvoir Street, he has been a key figure in the shape of Australian theatre for nearly five decades.
His cu...2024-05-011h 00
In ConversationOsmo Vänskä: A very Finnish conductorA distinguished conductor with a large repertoire of recordings, Osmo Vänskä has been chief conductor of orchestras in many parts of the world, including the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in his native Finland, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra. His repertoire may be vast, but it’s the music of his native Finland, and in particular the music of Sibelius, for which the New York Times noted that Osmo is “one of the most important contemporary interpreters”.Osmo discusses the music of Sibelius and its importance to Finland, as well as sharin...2024-04-2445 min
In ConversationBridget Bolliger: Pearls from the heartA flautist who has been described by one critic as “playing her way into the hearts of music lovers”, Bridget Bolliger has performed regularly in Australia, Switzerland and Brazil. In Europe, she’s played with several orchestras including as principal flute of the St Gallen Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Zurich Opera Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra and the Zürich Chamber Orchestra. In Brazil, she was principal flute of the Sinfonica de Sao Paulo, and in her country of birth she’s played with the Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras amongst many others. She’s well and tr...2024-04-1051 min
In ConversationElena Kats-Chernin AO: Wild swans and ornamental clarinetsOne of Australia's most notable and well-loved composers, Elena Kats-Chernin has written for ensembles large and small – from operas and piano concertos to the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Her work is a mainstay of performers at home and internationally, and the number of recordings of her works are countless. Not resting on her laurels, she’s created a new arrangement of her Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet, which is to be performed by David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble as part of their upcoming tour Re: Classica. She is also an artistic patron of 2MBS Fine Music...2024-04-0345 min
In ConversationSimon Lobelson: A love affair with musicA singer with a distinguished career which spans four continents, Helpmann-nominated Simon Lobelson has established himself as a one of the most versatile baritones of his generation. He's performed over 90 operatic roles spanning the baroque to the contemporary, with companies including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the English National Opera, as well as our own Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera. In concert, he’s performed with the Sydney Symphony, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and many ensembles overseas.In this conversation, Simon explores his musical inspirations and shares some personal reflections on life and the evolution of hi...2024-03-2746 min
In ConversationPatrick Whitbread: Riffing on the west sideHanda Opera on Sydney Harbour returns with the smash-hit musical West Side Story. It's one of the most famous and loved pieces of musical theatre ever written, and this production promises dynamic dance numbers and stunning voices on an over-water stage, with the unique backdrop of the Sydney skyline and harbour.Playing Riff in this production is Patrick Whitbread. He has been touring Australia and New Zealand for almost a decade, appearing in some much-loved shows, including Mary Poppins, The Book of Morman, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Matilda the Musical and Cats. In this conversation, Patrick give...2024-03-2044 min
In ConversationPaavali Jumppanen: A versatile virtuosoThe imaginative and versatile Finnish virtuoso pianist Paavali Jumppanen has established himself as a dynamic musician of seemingly unlimited capability who has cut a wide swathe as an orchestral and recital soloist and artistic director of both the classic and contemporary. He’s performed in the US, Europe, Japan, China, Japan and Australia, and it is in Australia that he has made a second home, as since 2021 he has been the artistic director of the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne.
Paavali gives us a great insight into ANAM and their philosophy and methods, and we hea...2024-03-061h 00
In ConversationRenaud Capuçon: Poet of the violinOne of the leading violinists of his generation, Renaud Capuçon is known and loved for his poise, depth of tone, and virtuosity. He has worked with luminaries including Charles Dutoit, Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim, and with all the major orchestras, whether it’s the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and many, many more. He has recorded over 20 albums, and one reviewer labelled him “an uninhibited musician at the peak of his art”. He’s in Sydney giving the Australian premiere of the violin concerto composed for him by Camille Pépin, with the Sydney Sym...2024-02-2843 min
In ConversationAndrew Haveron: Master of the concertA violinist in great demand internationally, UK-born Andrew Haveron is currently the concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, having previously served in that role with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As first violinist with the internationally acclaimed Brodsky Quartet he recorded more than 15 albums and collaborated with a diverse cross section of artists. Despite keeping busy with the Sydney Symphony he is still able to perform in chamber recitals, including with Katheryn Selby and the Omega Ensemble, and in February he returns to the Great Synagogue in Sydney for Vienna's Golden Age, opening a new year of concerts for Live...2024-02-0749 min
In ConversationJonathan Howard: A king's singerThe King's Singers represent the gold standard in a cappella singing, and have performed on the world’s stages from London to New York, and from Sydney to Singapore. They are renowned for unrivalled technique, impeccable vocal blend, as well as a healthy dose of delightful British wit. Bass singer Jonathan Howard is the ensemble's current longest serving member, now in his second decade with the group. In this conversation, Johnny takes us on a deep dive into what makes this remarkable ensemble tick and shares the joys that vocal music has brought him throughout his life.
Th...2024-01-3156 min
In ConversationBenjamin Skepper: A contrapuntal temperamentA musician who has received international recognition for his comprehensive body of work, Benjamin Skepper combines classical aesthetics with contemporary art, science, technology and the avant-garde. His art studio, Contrapuntal, creates multi-artform installations, performances and events. For this year’s Sydney Festival, he’s co-curated a festival within the festival – Temperament, which delves into the music of JS Bach from every possible angle. It features performances by a range of our top ensembles, and Benjamin himself is performing his show Praeludium y Fuga.In this in-depth interview, Benjamin talks about his work with the Sydney Festival, the origins...2024-01-241h 02
In ConversationStanley Dodds: The excitement of a big musical worldStanley Dodds is a violinist and conductor whose career spans three decades. He has been a violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic since 1994, and principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2014. He’s conducted around the world, from our own Melbourne, Tasmanian and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, to the Hamburg, Vancouver and Beijing Symphony Orchestras, amongst many others. He also has a passion for music education, which makes him the ideal choice for his latest appointment as the new chief conductor of the Sydney Youth Orchestra.Stan talks eloquently about his inspirational musical journey as both a violinist an...2024-01-1756 min
In ConversationOlivia Ansell: Exhilarating a city in summerIn Conversation begins a new year with an event synonymous with Sydney in January – the Sydney Festival. Simon Moore is joined by Festival Director Olivia Ansell, who whets our appetite on some of the 130 events across the 24 days of the 2024 Sydney Festival.
Now in the role for three years, she brings over 20 years experience as an artist, key creative, promoter and producer, working across tourism, media and entertainment. Her previous credits include working as Head of Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House and being voted one of Vivid’s top creative catalysts.
Olivia also share...2024-01-1059 min
In ConversationFiona Allan: White wine in the sunIn the final program for 2023, Simon Moore is joined by an Australian arts leader who has made a name for herself internationally. Fiona Allan has been in senior roles, including artistic director, of theatres, venues and events from the Sydney Film Festival and the Australian National Academy of Music, to the Arts Council in England and the Millennium Centre in Wales. Until a few years ago she was in charge of the UK’s busiest single theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome, and it was from there that she returned to her home town of Sydney to become the current CEO of...2023-12-1343 min
In ConversationJulie Lea Goodwin: Soprano in the houseSoprano Julie Lea Goodwin performs across opera, musical theatre, and classical cross-over. She has played Musetta in La Bohème and Maria in West Side Story for Opera Australia. She performed opposite Anthony Warlow in The Phantom of the Opera, and has sung as a soloist with many of Australia’s Symphony Orchestras. With Christmas in the air, she’ll be joining the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Carols at the House for three concerts from 15th to the 17th of December in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.Julie Lea knew she wanted to be a perfor...2023-12-0644 min
In ConversationJamie Oxenbould: The art of comedy for a midnight murderAn actor for over 25 years, Jamie Oxenbould has performed at the full spectrum of Sydney theatres, whether it’s the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin or the Ensemble. He’s worked in film and television, and his voice is familiar to us on animations and TV ads. He’s back at the Ensemble Theatre to star in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall, a new play that he’s co-written with the Ensemble’s artistic director Mark Kilmurry.Jamie talks about the inspiration for and the creation of this new play, and we get some insights into the secret...2023-11-2949 min
In ConversationKaty Manning: Adventures in space and timeThis week, In Conversation celebrates the 60th anniversary of a television phenomenon which has captivated audiences of all ages. Doctor Who is loved by millions around the world. Aside from its official television incarnation, it’s seen two feature films, three stage plays, five spin-off series, hundreds of original audio dramas and novels, and countless unofficial fan made magazines, novels, videos plays, and more than a few podcasts.
Katy Manning played the role of Jo Grant in three seasons opposite Jon Pertwee’s Doctor in the early 70s. Australian theatre audiences will be familiar with her time base...2023-11-221h 08
In ConversationMiles Mullin-Chivers: Playing the cello at 100km per hourMiles Mullin-Chivers began playing the cello at the age of just 4, and has been taught by some of this country’s most accomplished musicians. He’s performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, including as guest principal cellist, and with the Opera Australia Orchestra. He’s played with the Canberra International Music Festival, the Four Winds Festival, Musica Viva, Selby and Friends and Live at Yours, and has also appeared as a soloist. He will be one of many Australian musicians from around the world coming together as the Australian World Orchestra, under the baton of their founder and artistic direct...2023-11-081h 00
In ConversationAndrey Gugnin: An inspired musical imaginationA concert pianist who is rapidly gaining international acclaim as a passionately virtuosic performer, Andrey Gugnin has been described by Gramophone magazine as having an “extraordinarily versatile and agile technique which serves an often inspired musical imagination”, and the BBC Music Magazine Awards named him the winner of the Instrumental Award for his recording of Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes & Piano Sonatas 1 & 2. His name is likely familiar to Australians as the winner of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition, and it’s for the parent company of the competition, Piano+, that he is now touring in Australia, with recitals in Sydney and Melbourn...2023-10-2543 min
In ConversationLouise Herron AM: 50 years of our favourite house50 years ago this week, a place was formally opened that is truly beloved by Sydney-siders, Australians, and the entire world. The Sydney Opera House is an unmistakable part of the cultural fabric of this city and the nation, and plays a substantial role in Australia's identity. Louise Herron is the person ultimately responsible for this world heritage building. Since 2012, she has been the Sydney Opera House CEO, and has shepherded the venue through the most significant renewal of its 5 decade life. In this conversation, Louise takes us inside this iconic building and reveals how things ha...2023-10-1848 min
In ConversationTahlia Petrosian: Taking classics undergroundViolist Tahlia Petrosian is recognised as one of the foremost creative forces who is transforming classical music in the 21st Century. Her unique approach to classical performance has garnered international attention and acclaim for her ability to redefine the boundaries of the genre. She’s performed in venues from the Sydney Opera House to Wigmore Hall. A violist with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, she’s also the brains behind the exciting concept Klassik Underground, and the Financial Review called her “The Australian violist making classical music cool again”. This conversation was recorded on a recent visit Tahlia made...2023-10-1143 min
In ConversationDaniel Rojas: Romancing and dancing with a Latin heartAn award-winning composer specialising in the rich and vibrant Latin American aesthetic, Daniel Rojas is an acclaimed pianist known for his stunning improvisations at the keyboard. Limelight Magazine has said he “is a master of his craft, both as a pianist and composer" and the Sydney Arts Guide has called his performances “energetic and emphatic” and “joyously explosive”.
He's bringing that energy once again to the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra on October 14 and 15, as he teams up with fellow pianist Yerim Lee to premiere his passionate new work Romanza y Danza de los Muertos.
Daniel talks about his i...2023-09-2058 min
In ConversationElizabeth Scott: Keeping people singing through lifeA true leader of the next generation of choral singers, Elizabeth Scott is a highly skilful choral conductor who has led the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ young adult choir Vox since 2008. She’s worked with the Queensland, Adelaide and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, and is a regular chorus master with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She also has a passion for contemporary choral composers, and it’s one such composer who is the centrepiece of the upcoming performance she will be conducting with Vox, of David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion, which has been defined as one of the most profound...2023-09-1348 min
In ConversationEmily Sun: La vie en roseViolinist Emily Sun is in demand internationally for her compelling and captivating interpretations. She has appeared with almost all the major Australian symphony orchestras, as well as orchestras across Europe, China, and the US. She has played in world class venues from the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, and has performed for royalty in both the UK and Belgium. Emily is the 2023 Artist-in-Association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.In this interview, Emily shares memories of appearing as the schoolgirl soloist in the heartfelt 2011 documentary Mrs Carey's Concert, recalls playing for the then Prince of W...2023-08-3037 min
In ConversationClaude-Michel Schönberg: Composing a musical revolutionA legend of the musical theatre world, composer Claude-Michel Schönberg is one half of the team behind Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, and many other musicals. Of the Boublil-Schönberg writing team, it’s Claude-Michel who provides the music. The pair have been collaborating since their 1973 musical La Revolution Française, but it was their concept album of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables which led to a West End production, and for their work to be performed in all corners of the world.Claude-Michel was in Sydney thanks to Opera Australia’s production of Miss Saigon, and in thi...2023-08-2344 min
In ConversationRohan Browne: Penguins, cats and candelabrasActor, singer and dancer Rohan Browne has established an esteemed career spanning 25 years, and counting. His musical theatre credits in particular are impressive, including stints in The Boy from Oz, Singin' in the Rain, Cats, West Side Story and Chicago. On screen, he’s featured in Dance Academy, Miss Fisher’s Mysteries and Secret Bridesmaids Business to name just a few. He’s currently appearing as the illuminating, witty and immensely fun Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, playing now at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.In this conversation, Rohan tells stories from his career, from his first lightnin...2023-08-1647 min
In ConversationHeather Shannon: Embracing what doesn't fit inA dynamic musician who cannot be constrained by a single musical genre, Heather Shannon burst into the public consciousness as part of the internationally renowned independent rock band The Jezabels, performing in venues from the Sydney Opera House to the O2 Arena in London, as well as at the legendary Glastonbury. Since that period, she’s been composing music in the classical genre, having worked with orchestras such as ACO Collective, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Orchestra, and it’s with The Metropolitan Orchestra that she will be performing her latest work, Strange Roses for Synthesizer and Orch...2023-08-0955 min
In ConversationMorgan Pearse: The power and magic of the human voiceWidely regarded as one of the most exciting and talented baritones of his generation, Morgan Pearse made his professional debut with the English National Opera and has gone from strength to strength ever since, performing from the Concertgebouw to the Sydney Opera House, from New Zealand to Germany. Currently based in London, this interview was recorded on one of Morgan's visits home to Australia, when he performed with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.In this gentle and wide ranging conversation, Morgan speaks about the magic and power of live singing, and takes us through a diverse range of...2023-07-2644 min
In ConversationRay Chen: A tonic for everyoneA world renowned Australian violinist, Aria-nominated Ray Chen has redefined what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st Century. He has broken boundaries not just in his playing but in his embrace of modern technology, reaching out to a global audience of millions thanks to a captivating online presence. He’s spread his wings into the world of computer games, is a fashion icon thanks to a multi-year partnership with Armani, and has collaborated with Sting. He also has a serious commitment to music education which has even led him to launch a new music practicing app...2023-07-1246 min
In ConversationTanya Bannister: Communicating through the pianoTanya Bannister is a pianist lauded by critics for playing with “intelligence, poetry and proportion”. The co-founder of both the AlpenKammerMusik in Austria and the Roadmaps Festival in New York, her career has taken her to many of the world’s great concert halls, from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She’s also a past winner of two different prestigious international piano competitions, including the Concert Artists Guild competition in New York, an organisation of which she is now the president. She is in Australia to be one of the jurists of the Sydney Internat...2023-07-0531 min
In ConversationLiisa Pallandi: Living the ACO lifeIt’s often said that the Australian Chamber Orchestra is best described as an orchestra of soloists, and violinist Liisa Pallandi is one such soloist. She is ACO through and through, having been part of their emerging artists program back in 2012, and she’s been playing with the orchestra ever since, becoming a permanent member in 2015. She’s also performed with the Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmanian Symphony orchestras, as guest principal violin with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, and has played chamber music as far away as Denmark.
In this conversation, Liisa talks about her experience with the ACO em...2023-06-2147 min
In ConversationMasaaki Suzuki: A foundation of BachMasaaki Suzuki is internationally renowned as an expert in choral music and an accomplished organist, harpsichordist and conductor. The founder and artistic director of Bach Collegium Japan, he has recorded the entirety of Bach’s choral works, plus his concertos, orchestral suites, and solo works for harpsichord. His expertise extends well beyond Bach, having conducted repertoire as diverse as Britten, Beethoven, Mahler and Mendelssohn, but it’s Mozart that brings him to Australia as he conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, for Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, June 7-10, at the Sydney Opera H...2023-06-0741 min
In ConversationDavid Greco: The art of listening on a silent nightDavid Greco has sung on some of the finest stages across Europe and makes regular appearances with Australia’s most renowned orchestras, including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra as well as the Sydney Symphony. Internationally regarded for his interpretations of Schubert lieder and the solo works of JS Bach, this ARIA award-nominated artist is also the first Australian ever to have been appointed to a position with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican. In June, he joins the Australian Haydn Ensemble for Die Stille Nacht from 16-24 June at the City Recital Hall plus various reg...2023-05-3144 min
In ConversationNico Fleury: A passion for the beauty of musicNicolas Fleury has been playing the French horn since he was 8. He’s been principle horn of the Aurora Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and made guest appearances with a slew of orchestras around the world including the Sydney Symphony and London Symphony Orchestras. He’s performed live on the BBC, appeared alongside conductors like Charles Dutoit, Neville Marriner and John Gardiner, and he’s now settled in Australia as principal horn with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He’s made regular appearances with organisations around the country including Musica Viva and the Omega Ensemble.In...2023-05-1741 min
In ConversationUmberto Clerici: Layers of an individualistic maestroUmberto Clerici has gained quite the reputation as an artist of diverse and multifaceted talents. He made his solo debut as a cellist at the age of 17, and his career took him to roles as principal cello of several orchestras, including the Sydney Symphony where he made his conducting debut in 2018. He’s now Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, but he still finds time to play his cello, and will be performing with SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and ACO Principal Violist Stefanie Farrands for My Gypsy Soul, for two concerts at the Great Synagogue on Tuesday, May 16, th...2023-05-0348 min
In ConversationAlexander Gavrylyuk: Pictures of positivity and inner freedomA much loved pianist who Australia has adopted as one of our own, Ukrainian-born Alexander Gavrylyuk began as a teenage prodigy and has been dazzling audiences around the world ever since. He’s performed at the BBC Proms, Wigmore Hall, the Lincoln Centre, and played with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, and closer to his adopted home he’s recorded all the Prokofiev piano concertos with the Sydney Symphony under Vladimir Ashkenazy.
In this conversation, Alexander shares stories of his upbringing in Ukraine when still part of the USSR, the opportunities that came from comi...2023-04-1251 min
In ConversationSian Sharp: Flowers and butterflies on Sydney HarbourMezzo-soprano Sian Sharp has been singing with Opera Australia for nearly 20 years. Her significant repertoire includes key roles in seminal operas including Il Trovatore, Otello, The Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto, and Carmen – most recently late last year performing the title role in the much admired production on Cockatoo Island. And she’s back singing in the open air once again, as the loyal servant and maid Suzuki for the current production of Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour. A reviewer from one of her previous portrayals of this role described her performance as “absolute perfection”, and in this conversat...2023-04-0534 min
In ConversationJay James-Moody: On a clear day you can see SquabbalogicAn award winning actor, director, writer and producer, Jay James-Moody has collaborated with an impressive range of Australia’s arts organisations, from Opera Australia to the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and the Sydney Theatre Company to the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, plus New Mardi Gras, to name only a few. He is the founder and artistic director of Squabbalogic, an independent theatre company presenting an eclectic range of new musicals and reinterpretations of established favourites. Their next production is a new take on the 1960s screwball comic gem, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, playing at the Seymour Centre fr...2023-03-1553 min
In ConversationElinor Frey: Boccherini, Dall'Abaco and a menagerie of cellosA leading Canadian-American cellist, gambist and researcher, Elinor Frey has made numerous recordings, many of which are world premieres and the result of long collaborations with other artists. The artistic director of Accademia de Dissonanti, an organisation for performance and research, she’s performed throughout the world, and is now in Sydney making her Australian debut with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra for a series of concerts entitled Spanish Steps.
Elinor brings a wealth of knowledge and passion about Boccherini as well as lesser known composer Giuseppe Clemente Dall’Abaco, we find out about her remarkable collection of inst...2023-02-2250 min
In ConversationShaun Rennie: Lighting the night with la vie BohèmeAn award-winning director who is taking the Sydney arts scene by storm, Shaun Rennie has received three Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Director, and won the Broadway World Award for Best Direction for both his productions of Rent at the Hayes, and Baby Doll at the Ensemble.Most recently, he directed the highly acclaimed The Lovers, a musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, produced by Bell Shakespeare, which played to sold-out houses at the Sydney Opera House’s Playhouse late last year. He’s currently the revival director for Opera Australia’s La Bohème which...2023-01-2540 min
In ConversationChad Kelly: Licenced to playBritish keyboardist and director Chad Kelly has a very long list of credits to his name. He has been living in Australia less than two years, but has already performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Victorian Opera, and with the Sydney and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. Earlier this year, he joined Opera Australia. His commitment to historically informed performance practice has led him to perform with Sir John Elliot Gardiner and Trevor Pinnock, and his enduring collaboration with violinist Rachel Podger has recently culminated in them recording an album together of JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations, due for release in...2022-11-3034 min
In ConversationAlexander Gadjiev: Pianist, cultural ambassador, and the beauty of older recordingsAlexander Gadjiev is an exciting young pianist who is making waves across the world. He was the winner of the 2021 Sydney International Piano Competition, second place getter in the International Chopin Competition of the same year, including being awarded the side prize for best performance of a Chopin Sonata, and was the BBC New Generation Artist since 2019. In this conversation, Alexander gives some amazing insights into the craft of the pianist, introducing historic performances from some of the great pianists of the 20th Century and elaborates on why he favours those older recordings.He's touring A...2022-10-1938 min
In ConversationGeraldine Turner OAM: Sondheim, The Mousetrap, and all that jazzAnyone witness to the Australian theatre scene over the past five decades will know and love Geraldine Turner. Her long and distinguished career, most particularly in musical theatre, includes the original Australian productions of A Little Night Music and Chicago, and she’s also appeared in productions of Company, Oliver, Anything Goes, and The Mikado, to name just a few. She’s been in evergreen shows such as Don’s Party and Present Laughter, and is now appearing in the play which holds the record for having the longest West End run in history. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap opened t...2022-10-1251 min
In ConversationCheryl Barker AO: Glorious Puccini, Pacific Opera and the secrets of long lasting loveAn opera singer with an impressively long and distinguished career, Cheryl Barker has sung some of the key roles in the repertoire, perhaps most famously playing Mimi in Baz Luhrmann’s production of Puccini’s La Bohème, her incredible performances of Tosca, and creating the role of Sarah Miles in Jake Heggie’s The End of the Affair, in Houston. She and her husband, baritone Peter Coleman-Wright will be joining the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs under artistic director Brett Weymark for Glorious Puccini in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on October 29.In this conversation, Cheryl...2022-10-0543 min
In ConversationEric WhitacreFor Eric Whitacre, everything seems possible. The music of this Grammy-award winning composer and conductor has been performed in all corners of the world. He has united 100,000 singers in more than 145 countries for his ground breaking Virtual Choirs, his debut album as a conductor, Light and Gold, went straight to the top of the charts, and he’s even collaborated with NASA – his composition Deep Field having been inspired by the Hubble Telescope, leading him to work on a film seen at arts and science festivals across the globe.In this conversation, Eric talks about The Sacred Veil...2022-08-3145 min
In ConversationDaniel DoddsA violinist who has performed on every continent, Adelaide-born Daniel Dodds is the Artistic Director of Festival Strings Lucerne. He’ll be back in Australia to appear as Concertmaster of the Australian World Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, for performances in Melbourne and Sydney. It is said he elicits “joie de vivre” from fellow musicians and audiences alike, which is apparent in the positivity he expresses about his playing and the repertoire he’s chosen to share with us in this conversation, which includes several private recordings of his past performances.2022-08-1748 min
In ConversationHayden TeeHayden Tee is not just a triple threat, he’s more of a quadruple one – an actor, singer, make-up artist, and also now a director. He knows a thing or two about musical theatre, having played Javert in Les Misérables in multiple countries, including on the West End, Broadway and on these shores. He’s appeared in Matilda, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, and Into the Woods, to name just a few, his cabaret shows have been a hit in New York and in Australia, and he’s released three albums. Based in New York, Hayden is in Sydney to...2022-07-2052 min
In ConversationSimon TedeschiOne of Australia’s most beloved and renowned pianists, Simon Tedeschi has played with all the major Australian orchestras, and is a seasoned chamber musician and collaborator too. He’s recorded a vast swath of albums covering music from JS Bach and Domenico Scarlatti to Mark Isaacs and Mike Nock, with a decent chunk of George Gershwin too. He’s also a writer, with his first book, Fugitive, published in May, simultaneous with winning the Calibre Essay prize for his essay This Woman, My Grandmother.In this wide-ranging conversation, Simon discusses his writing, including the award-winning essay about his lat...2022-07-1346 min
In ConversationAnna O'ByrneA soprano and actress who has established an international career spanning opera, theatre, concert and film, Anna O’Byrne has performed with the likes of Anthony Warlow and Emma Thompson, sung for Charles and Camilla, and appeared in everything from West Side Story to Barnum, and Guys and Dolls to A Little Night Music. But her most well known role on these shores was as Eliza Doolittle in the 60th Anniversary production of My Fair Lady, at the Sydney Opera House, for which she won the Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Musical. Anna appears at the Pl...2022-05-1144 min
In ConversationLeonard WeissAn exciting and dynamic young conductor, Leonard Weiss has made a name for himself with the Canberra Sinfonia, and the Sydney, Queensland and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, to name just a few. He’s the inaugural winner of the Conductor NSW Orchestral Early Career Fellowship with the Sydney Youth Orchestras in conjunction with Create NSW, and was recognised as the “rising star of 2020” by John Hopkins University during his time there.Leonard is incredibly articulate and entertaining, talking about his artistic development with good humour, including his time with one of his mentors, Marin Alsop, when he was the Ba...2022-03-2345 min
In ConversationJeanell Carrigan AMJeanell Carrigan is an Associate Professor in the Collaborative Piano Unit at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has performed throughout Australia and Europe as a soloist, chamber musician and collaborative duo partner. Her area of research is Australian solo piano repertoire and more recently in the piano music composed by early 20th Century Australian women composers. She’s released 32 albums of solo Australian piano and chamber works and has written several books.In this conversation, Jeanell speaks with Simon Moore in depth about her most recent project – the recording and publication of the first four piano trio...2022-02-0950 min
In ConversationShane Placentino(Originally aired in June 2021)Shane Placentino has made the move from ballet dancer, to choreographer, and now opera director. He began his career with the Australian Ballet in 1991, dancing the entire classical and contemporary repertoire. He went on to be with the Sydney Dance Company from 2002, but more recently he’s hung up his dance shoes and moved into direction with Opera Australia - currently being the Revival Director for Aida, which opened at the Sydney Opera House on 22 June, and is due to return again after the current lockdown.2021-06-3058 min
In ConversationJosh PitermanIt’s 35 years since The Phantom of the Opera opened on London’s West End, making it one of the most successful musicals of all time. It was still playing there until COVID hit early last year, where Australian Josh Piterman was performing in the title role.Josh Piterman will be donning that famous mask once again in September, this time at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. Kicking off his career in The Ten Tenors, he’s appeared in musicals as diverse as West Side Story, Hairspray and Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, as well...2021-06-0239 min
In ConversationVan-Anh Nguyen(Originally aired in April 2021)Van-Anh Nguyen is a passionate and versatile pianist, producer, composer – and fashionista! She’s performed around the world and released 8 albums, topped the classical iTunes chart in both the US and Australia, and spends most of her time between her home town of Sydney and her adopted second home of Los Angeles. Van-Anh chatted to Simon ahead of her Australia-wide tour.2021-04-2856 min
In ConversationDerek ParkerDerek Parker has been a presenter at Fine Music Sydney for over 15 years, but his career in radio is far longer than that. He’s been a figure in broadcasting on radio and television for a staggering 70 years, but as if that’s not enough he’s also written over 50 books - covering topics as diverse as the golden years of radio and erotic fiction. But sadly for us here at Fine Music Sydney, he and his wife Julia have decided to return to their native Britain. He will much missed, both on air and off.UPDATE: This e...2021-04-1448 min