Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Alexander Lewis

For the first time, a musical comes to the outdoor stage of the annual Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. 

Joyful, enthusiastic singing, dancing and music combined for a very entertaining The Merry Widow with delightfully cast lead roles. 

Voltaire and Bernstein's wilful political incorrectness make Candide a challenge to behold, but the Sydney Philharmonia meets them in a concert performance in the opera house.

Shostakovich's early masterpiece is fêted at the Komische Oper Berlin

Kosky’s The Nose hits Sydney, sweeping the audience along with hallucinogenic energy. Led by the outstanding Martin Winkler and John Tomlinson, singers and musicians deliver a wild evening's entertainment.

Sorochyntsi Fair was last performed at Berlin's Komische Oper in 1948 by the legendary stage director Walter Felsenstein. Now Barrie Kosky, stage director and intendant, has tried his hand.

I arrived at the Royal Opera House in the usual way, settled into my seat, and – could you believe it – the opera was gone!