The revival of Neil Armfield's Melbourne Ring is relaunched with a successful Rheingold, sensitively conducted by Pietari Inkinen, with an especially fine performance from Warwick Fyfe as Alberich.
In a relatively traditional programme, the Australian Chamber Orchestra reach the heights thanks to soloist Slava Grigoryan (on guitar), and a scintillating performance of Beethoven's Symphony no. 7.
Julia Lezhneva partners with Richard Tognetti and the ACO to deliver a thrilling program of Baroque arias, in which her vocal agility and expressivity are on full display.
Verdi's most political opera feels particularly relevant in 2016, and the Opera Australia production convinces, thanks to the outstanding George Petean in the title role and an excellent supporting cast.
A revival of Francesca Zambello's production of Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges at the Sydney Opera House is a joy, thanks to the antics of Kanen Breen at the head of a strong cast.
A recital featuring less familiar music by Ginastera, Turina and Broadstock (leavened only by the bankable Beethoven) provides the visiting Enso Quartet with the opportunity to demonstrate admirable musicianship in Sydney.
Arrangements aplenty as the Australian Chamber Orchestra take on Bach's Art of Fugue and Beethoven's Op.130, with Richard Tognetti the accomplished soloists in Mozart's Violin Concerto no. 5.
Chinese dragons, Dalek-like pagoda towers: Opera Australia's harbour-side production of Turandot did not shy away from oriental imagery, leading to a spectacular evening's entertainment.
A well-worked revival of Elijah Moshinsky's production of Rossini's Barber of Seville offers gales of laughter and vocal delights at the Sydney Opera House, with starring roles for Paolo Bordogna, Anna Dowsley and Warwick Fyfe
The Belgian period-instrument ensemble Anima Eterna Brugge deliver controlled but expressive performances of Beethoven's Symphonies 8 and 7 as part of a complete cycle in Sydney
Beautiful sets and a fine cast led by Guillaume Tourniaire can't quite compensate for the dramatic weaknesses in Opera Australia's new production of Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles.
Another ancient hit revived and delivered with panache by Sydney-based Pinchgut Opera: Gretry's L'Amant jaloux (1778) proved it still could raise laughs, aided by a superb cast.
The final stop on the Basel Chamber Orchestra's Australian tour at the Sydney Opera House saw Sol Gabetta in fine fettle as soloist in Cello Concertos by Saint-Saëns and the Latvian Vasks.
To lose a player on the eve of a tour is nothing short of a disaster for a string quartet. However, substitute cellist Christophe Morin fits in well with the rest of the Modigliani Quartet in a revised program in Sydney.
With expressive playing of Brahms's miniatures and solid performances of two of Beethoven's late piano sonatas, Paul Lewis' recital in Sydney was musically satisfying if not transcendent.
The superstar diva, Renee Fleming, offers an eclectic program of opera, Lieder and show-tunes in Sydney, and particularly impressed with exquisite vocal nuances in works by Ravel, Canteloube and Richard Strauss.
Richard Tognetti and Christopher Moore exhibit excellent partnership in Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, while a performance of Brahms' Third Symphony by the expanded forces of the Australian Chamber Orchestra provides much excitement and colour, but little sense of architectonic coherence.
