Cover story- A Force of Nature- Vladimir Ashkenazy discusses majestic music, nature, and becoming the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's first Conductor Laureate as he conducts the SSO's Northern Lights Festival, featuring music by Sibelius and Grieg, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Beethoven Pastoral Project - a United Nations-led event taking place globally to shine a light on climate change.
Opus- Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth) emerged from a traumatic period for Mahler. We examine the story behind the beloved, intensely personal song-symphony as Stuart Skelton and Christianne Stotijn perform it with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Interview- Life of Py. French director Olivier Py discusses his career as his production of Wagner's Lohengrin, set in the ruins of Berlin in the aftermath of World War II, opens in Melbourne for Opera Australia.
Feature- Scoring video games. From reworked Debussy Preludes to 8-bit Tchaikovsky, classical music has long had a voice in video games. With several Australian games finding massive success overseas, we talk to the local composers making a living writing new music for this booming industry.
Reviews- Verdi's Attila at Opera Australia; The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra concert "Vivaldi's Venice" with French harpist Xavier de Maistre; Mozart's Jupiter at Queensland Symphony Orchestra; Clare Barron's Dance Nation about a ferocious dance competition at Belvoir.
What's on- live performance and radio highlights for May 2020.
