"National Opera does itself no favours by making lofty claims of producing professional-grade performances." BILL STEPHENS reviews a new production of The Merry Widow. But it wasn't all bad.
Review
Book reviewer ANNA CREER looks at three British crime novels... a university thriller, a policeman with a tragi-comic approach to crime and the mystery of a missing mother.
"It’s a performance on a knife-edge, relying throughout on audience responses. Jarrad West never falters, bringing energy as well as a touching sensitivity to the role." LEN POWER reviews Every Brilliant Thing.
"This was a concert full of music by almost totally forgotten composers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and conceived around the use of the fortepiano, played with great skill by Marie Searles," writes reviewer GRAHAM McDONALD.
"The truly outstanding feature of Silence & Rapture was the theatricality that permeated the evening, especially in the use of the stage space," writes reviewer MICHELLE POTTER.
"It was clear from the first few notes that this duo were frontline, high-quality performers. Their authority and presence was strong and clear," writes reviewer ROB KENNEDY.
"I was struck by how adventurous and unconventional the program was and perhaps it was even veering on the edge of too much for some who left before the concert was over," writes reviewer DANTE COSTA.
"Awash with song and dance, in a room full of some of Monroe’s cinema highlights, Sekuless kept the pace rolling, and invited the audience into Monroe’s world," writes reviewer ARNE SJOSTEDT.
BILL STEPHENS reviews Sister Act, the musical based on the popular 1992 film of the same name.
"In a meditation of sound and thoughts through action, Omar Musa stood tall while almost singing in a performance that crossed dynamism and subtlety." ROB KENNEDY reviews The Offering.
Reviewer COLIN STEELE looks at three Australian science fiction (or speculative fiction) books that provide future scenarios reflecting fears of the impact of artificial intelligence, climate change and the growing power of China.
LEN POWER reviews the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's salute to the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
