Performer: Sally-Anne Russell

The approach of Christmas in Australia always bring a veritable flood of Messiahs of varying quality, but the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra's offering, while using modern instruments, could otherwise hardly have been bettered.

Melbourne Opera's Walküre outdoes expectations, with really splendid singing and all-round performances, led by Lee Abrahmsen's Sieglinde. 

Much delayed by the pandemic, Giordano Bellincampi's Beethoven symphony cycle with the Auckland PO finally reaches its conclusion with a triumphant closing concert. 

A new pastiche opera, Voyage to the Moon offers a collection of Baroque arias and ensembles woven into a retelling of the Orlando story. 

Perhaps it was the prospect of a brand new composition or the idea of an evening of two full symphonies that put people off, but the Auckland Town Hall was very sparsely attended indeed for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s ‘Voices of Youth’ concert, featuring works based on texts written from children’s perspectives.

The concert to open the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's 80th Anniversary Series was very much one of contrasts. With the promise of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the season seemed to be opening in celebratory style. However, the entire first half was devoted to Richard Strauss' Metamorphosen, a piece which is a far cry from the triumphant finale of the Beethoven.