Beethoven's triumphant spirit shines through with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

By Oliver Brett, 13 February 2012

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Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Concert Hall, Sydney on 10 February 2012

Strauss R., Metamorphosen

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9 in D minor "Choral", Op.125

Vladimir Ashkenazy, Conductor

Lorina Gore, Soprano

Sally-Anne Russell, Mezzo-soprano

James Egglestone, Tenor

Michael Nagy, Baritone

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Simone Young conducts Sydney Symphony in its first Gurre-Lieder

Jeremy Eccles, 15th March

Can a perfect performance of the stupendous Gurrelieder be anything other than five stars?

*****

Back with a bang: Rattle and the LSO begin their Australian tour

David Larkin, 1st May

The LSO opens its three-concert Sydney stay with a panoply of colours and virtuoso orchestral playing in a programme of Adams, Debussy and Ravel, under the masterful leadership of Sir Simon Rattle

*****

Back from the brink: two sopranos rescue Florestan in Sydney

Jeremy Eccles, 24th November

Simone Young is made of stern stuff. With 30 hours to go before the concert performance, her Leonore falls ill. Can the show go on?

****1

Resurrection: Mahler resounds in the renovated Concert Hall

Zoltán Szabó, 20th July

Simone Young marks the start of her tenure at the helm of the Sydney Symphony with a performance that showcases the outstanding acoustics of the renovated Concert Hall.

*****

Mahler’s dark and brutal Das klagende Lied in Sydney

Zoltán Szabó, 7th December

As the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall closes for extensive refurbishment, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performs early, massive Mahler under Simone Young.

****1

Political Correctness on hold: Candide in Sydney

Jeremy Eccles, 29th September

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.

*****

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Oliver Brett

Oliver Brett is a professional organist, pianist, teacher and choral conductor. He held positions at King's College Cambridge, Westminster Cathedral and Durham Cathedral, and is currently Assistant Director of Music at St Mary's RC Cathedral in Sydney, Australia. He loves classical music of all genres.