In Conversation

Mandela Mathia is actor who has had an extraordinary journey from his origins in war-torn South Sudan, leading him to the stage of the Belvoir Street Theatre. It’s that remarkable story of joy and loss, perseverance and hope, that is now the subject of his one man show, Lose to Win, which plays at the Belvoir Theatre from 25 April to 19 May.

Mandela takes us through his life of uncertainty, loss, famine and war, to settling in Australia as a refugee and his vocation as an actor that helps share that story more broadly.

A flautist who has been described by one critic as “playing her way into the hearts of music lovers”, Bridget Bolliger has performed regularly in Australia, Switzerland and Brazil. In Europe, she’s played with several orchestras including as principal flute of the St Gallen Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Zurich Opera Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra and the Zürich Chamber Orchestra. In Brazil, she was principal flute of the Sinfonica de Sao Paulo, and in her country of birth she’s played with the Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras amongst many others. She’s well and truly settled back in Australia, and in 2008 founded the Sydney Chamber Music Festival.

Last year she released her latest album, Pearls, a collaboration with her brother Philip.

Bridget takes us on a journey through her remarkable life and career, through the many challenges, inspirations and lighter moments she has experienced, and thoughtfully introduces some of the music that has carrier her along the way.

One of Australia's most notable and well-loved composers, Elena Kats-Chernin has written for ensembles large and small – from operas and piano concertos to the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Her work is a mainstay of performers at home and internationally, and the number of recordings of her works are countless. Not resting on her laurels, she’s created a new arrangement of her Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet, which is to be performed by David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble as part of their upcoming tour Re: Classica. She is also an artistic patron of 2MBS Fine Music Sydney.

In her always engaging and infectiously positive manner, Elena takes us on a deep dive into her background and how she brings her compositions to life.

Her Clarinet Concerto Ornamental Air (new version) will be performed by David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Penrith between the 12th and 20th of April.

A singer with a distinguished career which spans four continents, Helpmann-nominated Simon Lobelson has established himself as a one of the most versatile baritones of his generation. He's performed over 90 operatic roles spanning the baroque to the contemporary, with companies including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the English National Opera, as well as our own Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera. In concert, he’s performed with the Sydney Symphony, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and many ensembles overseas.

In this conversation, Simon explores his musical inspirations and shares some personal reflections on life and the evolution of his illustrious career.

Simon Lobelson performs with Music @ VJs on 7 April.

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour returns with the smash-hit musical West Side Story. It's one of the most famous and loved pieces of musical theatre ever written, and this production promises dynamic dance numbers and stunning voices on an over-water stage, with the unique backdrop of the Sydney skyline and harbour.

Playing Riff in this production is Patrick Whitbread. He has been touring Australia and New Zealand for almost a decade, appearing in some much-loved shows, including Mary Poppins, The Book of Morman, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Matilda the Musical and Cats. In this conversation, Patrick gives a preview of the joys and challenges of this scale of musical. He shares tales of his life in musical theatre which he became involved in from a very young age.

West Side Story plays on Sydney Harbour at Mrs Macquaries Point until 21 April.

One of today’s most notable and exciting keyboard artists, Kristian Bezuidenhout is equally at home on either the fortepiano, harpsichord, or modern piano, but it's in period keyboards that he has specialised. Now based in London, he’s led many ensembles, including the English Consort, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Les Art Florissant, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra to name only a few, and has recorded nearly 30 albums. He’s a great friend of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and he’s back in Australia to guest direct the orchestra.

In this conversation, Kristian takes us on a deep dive into the fortepiano and why he has become so enamoured with this era of keyboard. We hear about the subtleties required for this instrument and the variations it acquired over time.

Kristian Bezuidenhout directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra for Beethoven's Emperor around Australia until 24 March.

The imaginative and versatile Finnish virtuoso pianist Paavali Jumppanen has established himself as a dynamic musician of seemingly unlimited capability who has cut a wide swathe as an orchestral and recital soloist and artistic director of both the classic and contemporary. He’s performed in the US, Europe, Japan, China, Japan and Australia, and it is in Australia that he has made a second home, as since 2021 he has been the artistic director of the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne. 

Paavali gives us a great insight into ANAM and their philosophy and methods, and we hear about his own musical journey including recording the entirety of Beethoven's piano sonatas.

Paavali Jumpannen directs the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Marvellous Mozart from 7-9 March at various locations. Musicians of ANAM will be performing Arnold Schönberg's Gurrelieder with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Simone Young on 15-16 March at the Sydney Opera House.

One of the leading violinists of his generation, Renaud Capuçon is known and loved for his poise, depth of tone, and virtuosity. He has worked with luminaries including Charles Dutoit, Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim, and with all the major orchestras, whether it’s the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and many, many more. He has recorded over 20 albums, and one reviewer labelled him “an uninhibited musician at the peak of his art”. He’s in Sydney giving the Australian premiere of the violin concerto composed for him by Camille Pépin, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by its chief conductor Simone Young.

Renaud speaks about key moments in his career, providing insights into the life a of a top tier musician such as himself. We also hear about his role as artistic director of the Menuhin Music Academy plus the story of his remarkable instrument, played for many years by Isaac Stern.

Renaud Capuçon performs Pépin's Violin Concerto La Sommeil a pris ton empreinte (Sleep retains your imprint) with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under chief conductor Simone Young from 28 February to 2 March, a concert which also includes a performance of Mahler's Symphony no 5.

“The Unconventional Pop Star” and “The Angel of Australia” are two phrases that have been used to describe soprano sensation Mirusia. She was the youngest ever winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Opera Award and has toured extensively with show-stopping violinist André Rieu. Together, they released the album Waltzing Matilda, which went platinum and to number 1 on the ARIA charts.

Mirusia releases Classique, her first purely classical album of arias, on February 23. In this program, Mirusia previews the album and shares a few tracks. She also talks about the journey to her remarkable career, plus we hear the inside story of working with André Rieu.

Kate Raison is an actor who is a familiar face for Australian theatre goers and television viewers. From a single guest role as an un-named nurse in an episodes of Sons and Daughters, she was a regular on dramas such as A Country Practice, Home and Away, and E-Street. Her theatre work has seen her perform in plays as disparate as Dark Voyager, Mary Stuart and The Torch Song Trilogy, and more recently she was fêted for her roles in Two and Killing Katie: Confessions of a Book Club. She’s currently rehearsing for The Great Divide, the latest work from living legend David Williamson for the Ensemble Theatre, which plays from 8 March to 27 April.

Kate talks about the joys of working on a new Williamson play, reminisces about those early TV roles that made her so familiar to audiences, and the joys and challenges of working in live theatre.

A violinist in great demand internationally, UK-born Andrew Haveron is currently the concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, having previously served in that role with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As first violinist with the internationally acclaimed Brodsky Quartet he recorded more than 15 albums and collaborated with a diverse cross section of artists. Despite keeping busy with the Sydney Symphony he is still able to perform in chamber recitals, including with Katheryn Selby and the Omega Ensemble, and in February he returns to the Great Synagogue in Sydney for Vienna's Golden Age, opening a new year of concerts for Live at Yours.

Andrew talks about his school life at the Purcell School for Young Musicians in London, and his time with the Brodsky Quartet. He explains his move to the role of Concertmaster, providing an inside view of the nuances and responsibilities of one of the most important roles in a symphony orchestra.

The King's Singers represent the gold standard in a cappella singing, and have performed on the world’s stages from London to New York, and from Sydney to Singapore. They are renowned for unrivalled technique, impeccable vocal blend, as well as a healthy dose of delightful British wit. Bass singer Jonathan Howard is the ensemble's current longest serving member, now in his second decade with the group. In this conversation, Johnny takes us on a deep dive into what makes this remarkable ensemble tick and shares the joys that vocal music has brought him throughout his life.

The King's Singers are touring Australia from 18-23 March with concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.

A musician who has received international recognition for his comprehensive body of work, Benjamin Skepper combines classical aesthetics with contemporary art, science, technology and the avant-garde. His art studio, Contrapuntal, creates multi-artform installations, performances and events. For this year’s Sydney Festival, he’s co-curated a festival within the festival – Temperament, which delves into the music of JS Bach from every possible angle. It features performances by a range of our top ensembles, and Benjamin himself is performing his show Praeludium y Fuga.

In this in-depth interview, Benjamin talks about his work with the Sydney Festival, the origins of his innovative multi-artform performances and compositions, plus his incredible journey through life which includes his first international performance tour at the age of 10, his human rights work in Cambodia, and his experience of the transformative power of music.

Benjamin Skepper performs Praeludium y Fuga at The Neilson on 27 and 28 January.

Stanley Dodds is a violinist and conductor whose career spans three decades. He has been a violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic since 1994, and principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2014. He’s conducted around the world, from our own Melbourne, Tasmanian and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, to the Hamburg, Vancouver and Beijing Symphony Orchestras, amongst many others. He also has a passion for music education, which makes him the ideal choice for his latest appointment as the new chief conductor of the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

Stan talks eloquently about his inspirational musical journey as both a violinist and conductor. He introduces a number of works which will feature in SYO programs throughout 2024, providing great insights into the nature and importance of the music, and the excitement he wants to inspire in our next generation of musicians.

Cathy Milliken's Catalogue of the Sky performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simone Young kindly provided by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Gabriela Ortiz's Téenek, Invenciones de Territorio performed by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel kindly provided by Deutschlandradio.

In Conversation begins a new year with an event synonymous with Sydney in January – the Sydney Festival. Simon Moore is joined by Festival Director Olivia Ansell, who whets our appetite on some of the 130 events across the 24 days of the 2024 Sydney Festival.

Now in the role for three years, she brings over 20 years experience as an artist, key creative, promoter and producer, working across tourism, media and entertainment. Her previous credits include working as Head of Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House and being voted one of Vivid’s top creative catalysts. 

Olivia also shares stories from her journey in the creative arts, which began in a childhood home full of musicians and performers of all kinds.

The Sydney Festival runs until 28 January.

In the final program for 2023, Simon Moore is joined by an Australian arts leader who has made a name for herself internationally. Fiona Allan has been in senior roles, including artistic director, of theatres, venues and events from the Sydney Film Festival and the Australian National Academy of Music, to the Arts Council in England and the Millennium Centre in Wales. Until a few years ago she was in charge of the UK’s busiest single theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome, and it was from there that she returned to her home town of Sydney to become the current CEO of Opera Australia.

Fiona reveals elements of how Opera Australia will continue to evolve and develop into the future, including working with new artistic director Jo Davies, and shares stories from her long career in arts management in both Australia and the UK.

Soprano Julie Lea Goodwin performs across opera, musical theatre, and classical cross-over. She has played Musetta in La Bohème and Maria in West Side Story for Opera Australia. She performed opposite Anthony Warlow in Phantom of the Opera, and has sung as a soloist with many of Australia’s Symphony Orchestras. With Christmas in the air, she’ll be joining the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Carols at the House for three concerts from 15th to the 17th of December in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.

Julie Lea knew she wanted to be a performer from a very early age, and tells stories of singing to the horses on the family’s property out of Brisbane and enjoying the old Hollywood musicals on video. She charts her carer from her remarkable early break as Christine in Phantom of the Opera, through making her debut with Opera Australia and singing with orchestras and ensembles around the country.

An actor for over 25 years, Jamie Oxenbould has performed at the full spectrum of Sydney theatres, whether it’s the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin or the Ensemble. He’s worked in film and television, and his voice is familiar to us on animations and TV ads. He’s back at the Ensemble Theatre to star in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall, a new play that he’s co-written with the Ensemble’s artistic director Mark Kilmurry.

Jamie talks about the inspiration for and the creation of this new play, and we get some insights into the secrets and mysteries of creating a successful comedy. We hear about the art of voice acting and Jamie also introduces a diverse selection of music which has inspired him over the years.

Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall plays at the Ensemble from December 1 through to January 14.

This week, In Conversation celebrates the 60th anniversary of a television phenomenon which has captivated audiences of all ages. Doctor Who is loved by millions around the world. Aside from its official television incarnation, it’s seen two feature films, three stage plays, five spin-off series, hundreds of original audio dramas and novels, and countless unofficial fan made magazines, novels, videos plays, and more than a few podcasts.

Katy Manning played the role of Jo Grant in three seasons opposite Jon Pertwee’s Doctor in the early 70s. Australian theatre audiences will be familiar with her time based in Sydney, when she appeared in such plays as Run for your Wife and Educating Rita, as well as her remarkable performance in Me and Jezebel.

Katy shares some wonderful stories not just from her time in Doctor Who, but also her long and varied career in theatre and television. We hear about some of the many people she’s met along the way, including Judy Garland, Barry Crocker and her life-long friend Liza Minelli, as well as the origins of her one woman play Not a Well Woman.

This is an extended version of the original broadcast edition.

Katya Apekisheva has earnt her place as one of Europe’s most renowned pianists. Grammophone Magazine described her as a “profoundly gifted artist”. She’s performed across the world in auspicious venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, and appears on multiple albums. This week, her latest album with fellow pianist Charles Owen is released on the Orchid Classics label, featuring the music of Poulenc, Debussy and Milhaud. 

Katya talks about her upbringing and tuition at the tail end of the Soviet system, her collaborations with Charles and other musicians, plus introduces a diverse selection of works that have shaped her musical inspiration and career development.

This interview was recorded at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville earlier this year. Festival director Jack Liebeck curated a delightful schedule of concerts, talks and other events for his second year as artistic director, bringing artists together from around Australia and all over the world. The next AFCM takes place from 26 July to 4 August 2024.

Miles Mullin-Chivers began playing the cello at the age of just 4, and has been taught by some of this country’s most accomplished musicians. He’s performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, including as guest principal cellist, and with the Opera Australia Orchestra. He’s played with the Canberra International Music Festival, the Four Winds Festival, Musica Viva, Selby and Friends and Live at Yours, and has also appeared as a soloist. He will be one of many Australian musicians from around the world coming together as the Australian World Orchestra, under the baton of their founder and artistic director, Alexander Briger, to perform Mahler’s Symphony no 9, at the Arts Centre in Melbourne on 22 November and at the City Recital Hall Angel Place on 24 November.

Miles tells some light-hearted stories about his career development, from his somewhat unorthodox education to his time as a Sydney Symphony fellow, and shares his choices of music and musicians that have inspired him through that journey.

An exciting director whose career covers an impressively vast range of genres, Chen Shi-Zheng has directed for the world’s leading opera houses and festivals, including the Lincoln Center Festival, the Royal Opera House and the English National Opera. On film, he has directed Meryl Streep for his award-winning film Dark Matter, as well as Disney’s High School Musical China at the other end of the spectrum, and has made TV documentaries too. He’s now in Australia, rehearsing all four operas of Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle for Opera Australia, to be performed in Brisbane in December.

Shi-Zheng reveals what is in store for this new production of one of opera's greatest masterpieces and shares his own journey of discovery to a work beloved by opera devotees. We hear about his childhood in China during the Cultural Revolution when his father was sent to a re-education camp, plus his experience directing Meryl Streep and the challenges of securing a diversity of work.

A concert pianist who is rapidly gaining international acclaim as a passionately virtuosic performer, Andrey Gugnin has been described by Gramophone magazine as having an “extraordinarily versatile and agile technique which serves an often inspired musical imagination”, and the BBC Music Magazine Awards named him the winner of the Instrumental Award for his recording of Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes & Piano Sonatas 1 & 2. His name is likely familiar to Australians as the winner of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition, and it’s for the parent company of the competition, Piano+, that he is now touring in Australia, with recitals in Sydney and Melbourne, plus as musical director of the OutWest Piano Fest.

Andrey has a great affinity with Australia and speaks gratefully about the time he has spent here, the challenges of piano competitions and how his career has continued to blossom since his 2016 win in Sydney. He also speaks honestly and with great pain about the invasion of Ukraine perpetrated by the country of his birth.

50 years ago this week, a place was formally opened that is truly beloved by Sydney-siders, Australians, and the entire world. The Sydney Opera House is an unmistakable part of the cultural fabric of this city and the nation, and plays a substantial role in Australia's identity. 

Louise Herron is the person ultimately responsible for this world heritage building. Since 2012, she has been the Sydney Opera House CEO, and has shepherded the venue through the most significant renewal of its 5 decade life. 

In this conversation, Louise takes us inside this iconic building and reveals how things have changed and continue to evolve for the world's favourite opera house. We also find out a little more about the woman who inhabits what is perhaps the finest office in the world.

Violist Tahlia Petrosian is recognised as one of the foremost creative forces who is transforming classical music in the 21st Century. Her unique approach to classical performance has garnered international attention and acclaim for her ability to redefine the boundaries of the genre. She’s performed in venues from the Sydney Opera House to Wigmore Hall. A violist with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, she’s also the brains behind the exciting concept Klassik Underground, and the Financial Review called her “The Australian violist making classical music cool again”. 

This conversation was recorded on a recent visit Tahlia made to Australia with members of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. In this fascinating discussion, she talks about repackaging classical music for a contemporary audience to entice new generations into the genre without sacrificing any musical integrity. Her diverse musical selections help to tell her story with both the Gewandhaus and Klassik Underground.

A name synonymous with musical theatre in Australia, Nancye Hayes started out in My Fair Lady back in 1961, and her list of credits is a catalogue of some of the most beloved shows and performances of the past half century or more. From Sweet Charity to Chicago, from Annie to Sweeny Todd she has it all covered.  She’s back on stage in a new production of the Stephen Sondheim classic A Little Night Music from October 13 at the theatre that bears her name, the Hayes.

In this wide ranging conversation, Nancye talks about returning to the role of Madam Armfeldt for the third time for this production, shares some of the highlights of her long and distinguished career on the stage, plus takes us back to where it all began.

An award-winning composer specialising in the rich and vibrant Latin American aesthetic, Daniel Rojas is an acclaimed pianist known for his stunning improvisations at the keyboard. Limelight Magazine has said he “is a master of his craft, both as a pianist and composer" and the Sydney Arts Guide has called his performances “energetic and emphatic” and “joyously explosive”.

He's bringing that energy once again to the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra on October 14 and 15, as he teams up with fellow pianist Yerim Lee to premiere his passionate new work Romanza y Danza de los Muertos.

Daniel talks about his influences behind this new composition, as well as his work more broadly, and takes us back to his childhood in Melbourne where his creativity with improvisation and composition developed from a very early age. He also shares his vast knowledge of the origins, characteristics and influences of Latin American music.

A true leader of the next generation of choral singers, Elizabeth Scott is a highly skilful choral conductor who has led the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ young adult choir Vox since 2008. She’s worked with the Queensland, Adelaide and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, and is a regular chorus master with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She also has a passion for contemporary choral composers, and it’s one such composer who is the centrepiece of the upcoming performance she will be conducting with Vox, of David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion, which has been defined as one of the most profound choral works of our time.

Elizabeth has spent her career nurturing and developing younger singers so that they have the tools to enjoy music throughout their entire life, including through the commissioning of new music.

Vox performs The Little Match Girl Passion, and other works, at the Verbruggen Hall on Saturday, October 14.

One of the most promising violinists of his generation, Théotime Langlois de Swarte is already a seasoned recitalist and chamber musician who has performed at prestigious venues all over the world. Captivating audiences since his early teens, Théotime is a regular with several baroque ensembles, including Les Arts Florissant plus his own period ensemble Le Consort. He’s in Australia now to guest direct the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra for a series of concerts with the enticing title of The Lover, at the City Recital Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre until 16 September.

Théotime shares his refreshing take on how to make classical music relevant in the modern era, the links between the classics, jazz and pop music, and gives us a taste of his remarkable career so far.

Violinist Emily Sun is in demand internationally for her compelling and captivating interpretations. She has appeared with almost all the major Australian symphony orchestras, as well as orchestras across Europe, China, and the US. She has played in world class venues from the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, and has performed for royalty in both the UK and Belgium. Emily is the 2023 Artist-in-Association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

In this interview, Emily shares memories of appearing as the schoolgirl soloist in the heartfelt 2011 documentary Mrs Carey's Concert, recalls playing for the then Prince of Wales now King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, describes her relationship with her unique instrument, and speaks about the remarkable resilience and resourcefulness of her father as a musician in Mao's China.

This interview was conducted at the 2023 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Emily Sun is in recital at Elder Hall on September 9 as part being Artist-in-Association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and plays with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the Sydney Opera House on September 15 and 16. She returns to Australia to perform with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra on November 17 and 18. The next Australian Festival of Chamber Music will take place from 26 July to 4 August 2024.

A legend of the musical theatre world, composer Claude-Michel Schönberg is one half of the team behind Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, and many other musicals. Of the Boublil-Schönberg writing team, it’s Claude-Michel who provides the music. The pair have been collaborating since their 1973 musical La Revolution Française, but it was their concept album of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables which led to a West End production, and for their work to be performed in all corners of the world.

Claude-Michel was in Sydney thanks to Opera Australia’s production of Miss Saigon, and in this conversation we hear about the inspiration behind this musical, the course of events which led to their international success with Les Misérables, as well as hearing about his unique relationship with music which has carried him throughout his life.

Actor, singer and dancer Rohan Browne has established an esteemed career spanning 25 years, and counting. His musical theatre credits in particular are impressive, including stints in The Boy from Oz, Singin' in the Rain, Cats, West Side Story and Chicago. On screen, he’s featured in Dance Academy, Miss Fisher’s Mysteries and Secret Bridesmaids Business to name just a few. He’s currently appearing as the illuminating, witty and immensely fun Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, playing now at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.

In this conversation, Rohan tells stories from his career, from his first lightning-fast audition to playing some of his dream roles, as well as sharing some of the unique challenges that comes with playing a candelabra!

A dynamic musician who cannot be constrained by a single musical genre, Heather Shannon burst into the public consciousness as part of the internationally renowned independent rock band The Jezabels, performing in venues from the Sydney Opera House to the O2 Arena in London, as well as at the legendary Glastonbury. Since that period, she’s been composing music in the classical genre, having worked with orchestras such as ACO Collective, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Orchestra, and it’s with The Metropolitan Orchestra that she will be performing her latest work, Strange Roses for Synthesizer and Orchestra, for its world premiere on Sunday August 20 at the Marrickville Town Hall.

In this conversation, Heather talks candidly about how a cancer diagnosis was the impetus for a change in her career direction, talks in detail about the inspiration behind her latest work, as well as giving some inside stories of the creation and evolution of The Jezabels. She speaks with great insight about her diverse musical choices, and her compositional style and techniques.

This week, In Conversation is on tour at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville. Simon Moore caught up with French Horn player Katy Woolley, who has been dubbed by one critic as possibly the finest horn player of her generation and one of the UK’s greatest exports. She’s the principal horn of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and prior to that had been the principal horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, a position she had held from just 22 years of age. With that orchestra, as well as during guest appearances with the London Mozart Players and the New York Philharmonic, she’s performed some of the key parts of the solo horn repertoire. 

In this conversation, Katy shares some honest thoughts about the ups and downs of her career, and speaks with enormous enthusiasm about her musical selections.

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music this year runs until 6 August. Festival director Jack Liebeck has curated an absolutely delightful schedule of concerts, talks and other events. It’s a great excuse for a winter break of great music in a perfect setting, next year’s festival will run from 26 July to 4 August 2024.

Widely regarded as one of the most exciting and talented baritones of his generation, Morgan Pearse made his professional debut with the English National Opera and has gone from strength to strength ever since, performing from the Concertgebouw to the Sydney Opera House, from New Zealand to Germany. Currently based in London, this interview was recorded on one of Morgan's visits home to Australia, when he performed with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

In this gentle and wide ranging conversation, Morgan speaks about the magic and power of live singing, and takes us through a diverse range of musical selections which highlight his passions and loves, and provides great insights into the life and performance practices of a singer.

An actress who has been a core part of the Australian Theatre, Film and Television industries for nearly 50 years, Belinda Giblin's credits are so numerous that it takes a while just to scroll through them all. Her stage work covers seminal pieces of theatre, from Blithe Spirit to The Removalists, and on television she’s appeared in any show of the past 50 years worth mentioning, whether it was The Sullivans, A Country Practice, Home and Away, not to mention that famous stint as the second coming of Pat the Rat in 1980s melodrama Sons and Daughters. 

Fresh from her appearance in Suddenly Last Summer at the Ensemble Theatre, Belinda is now preparing for The Weekend, a new adaptation of Charlotte Wood’s best selling novel, opening at Belvoir on August 5.

In this light-hearted conversation, Belinda reveals some aspects of this new play, speaks fondly about her time working in what many regard as the golden era of Australian television, shares some music which is particularly memorable for her, plus much more.

A world renowned Australian violinist, Aria-nominated Ray Chen has redefined what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st Century. He has broken boundaries not just in his playing but in his embrace of modern technology, reaching out to a global audience of millions thanks to a captivating online presence. He’s spread his wings into the world of computer games, is a fashion icon thanks to a multi-year partnership with Armani, and has collaborated with Sting. He also has a serious commitment to music education which has even led him to launch a new music practicing app, called Tonic. He may fly all around the world to perform concerts but he still calls Australia home, and is currently touring the country.

In this fast moving and jovial conversation, Ray enthusiastically talks about his craft, the inspiration and methodology behind the Tonic music practice app, making his acting cameos, his energetic social media presence, and much more.

Tonic is available for iOS and Android. Ray performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Sydney Symphony from 12-15 July, and the Play with Ray concert, where three aspiring musicians get the chance to share the concert stage with him, is on 25 July.

Tanya Bannister is a pianist lauded by critics for playing with “intelligence, poetry and proportion”. The co-founder of both the AlpenKammerMusik in Austria and the Roadmaps Festival in New York, her career has taken her to many of the world’s great concert halls, from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She’s also a past winner of two different prestigious international piano competitions, including the Concert Artists Guild competition in New York, an organisation of which she is now the president. She is in Australia to be one of the jurists of the Sydney International Piano Competition, which runs from July 5-22.

In this conversation, Tanya shares her experiences from both sides of piano competitions, and talks about how winning is only the first step in selling yourself as a professional pianist.

Soprano Jessica Pratt has well and truly established herself as an international opera star. She's been hailed by The New York Times as a soprano of “gleaming sound, free and easy high notes, agile coloratura runs and lyrical grace”, and is considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of some of belcanto’s most challenging repertoire. She’s back in Australia to appear in two Opera Australia productions – in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffman, as well as a one-night, one-woman concert of Mad Scenes with Jessica Pratt.

In this conversation, Jessica talks about belcanto and mad scenes, her inspirations and challenges, and we get a sneak preview from her forthcoming album, Delirio.

It’s often said that the Australian Chamber Orchestra is best described as an orchestra of soloists, and violinist Liisa Pallandi is one such soloist. She is ACO through and through, having been part of their emerging artists program back in 2012, and she’s been playing with the orchestra ever since, becoming a permanent member in 2015. She’s also performed with the Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmanian Symphony orchestras, as guest principal violin with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, and has played chamber music as far away as Denmark.

In this conversation, Liisa talks about her experience with the ACO emerging artist program, the inspiration from both her fellow ACO musicians and their guest artists, and the remarkable instrument she plays. She provides a number of insights into different styles of music and performance through her diverse musical selection.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra are performing concerts of the music of Mozart until 28 June at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, the Sydney Opera House as well as in the other state capitals. Liisa will also be co-directing the Sydney Youth Orchestra with her brother Jaan on 27 August to help celebrate the orchestra’s 50th birthday.

British violinist Thomas Gould is no stranger to Australia. The leader of the Britten Sinfonia, he has been described by The Guardian as an artist who “refuses to be defined by a single genre”. His repertoire certainly backs that up, having performed and recorded extensively with classical and jazz ensembles. He’s back now in Australia to perform Philip Glass’s 2nd Violin Concerto, The American Four Seasons, with the Omega Ensemble, commencing on Tuesday 20 June at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place before heading to Newcastle and Melbourne.

In this conversation, Thomas talks of his experience of performing Philip Glass, his love of the conductor-less environment, the inspiration he takes from other musicians in what he refers to as a new golden age of violin playing, plus much more. His musical selections reinforce the notion that he is not able to be defined by a single genre.

Masaaki Suzuki is internationally renowned as an expert in choral music and an accomplished organist, harpsichordist and conductor. The founder and artistic director of Bach Collegium Japan, he has recorded the entirety of Bach’s choral works, plus his concertos, orchestral suites, and solo works for harpsichord. His expertise extends well beyond Bach, having conducted repertoire as diverse as Britten, Beethoven, Mahler and Mendelssohn, but it’s Mozart that brings him to Australia as he conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, for Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, June 7-10, at the Sydney Opera House.

In this conversation, Masaaki talks with great passion about the importance of Bach as a foundation stone to the composers who follow, shares some memorable tales from his earlier years, and introduces some of the vast number of recordings of Bach Collegium Japan.

David Greco has sung on some of the finest stages across Europe and makes regular appearances with Australia’s most renowned orchestras, including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra as well as the Sydney Symphony. Internationally regarded for his interpretations of Schubert lieder and the solo works of JS Bach, this ARIA award-nominated artist is also the first Australian ever to have been appointed to a position with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican. In June, he joins the Australian Haydn Ensemble for Die Stille Nacht from 16-24 June at the City Recital Hall plus various regional venues across NSW.

In this light hearted conversation, David regales us with some wonderful tales from his career, from appearing in the Opera Australia chorus through to working with some of Europe’s finest. 

One of Australia’s best known and most performed composers, Ross Edwards has a career spanning more than 60 years, and counting. He has written for all genres, be it orchestral, chamber, choral, opera as well as for the screen. Now in his 80th year, Ross is still composing, and is helping to celebrate his 80th birthday by composing a clarinet concerto for David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble, to be premiered at the City Recital Hall on June 20.

In this wide ranging conversation, Ross shares some experiences from his long career, his inspirations, and compositional technique. He introduces a number of his own works, highlighting their origins and the musicians for whom they were written.

Umberto Clerici has gained quite the reputation as an artist of diverse and multifaceted talents. He made his solo debut as a cellist at the age of 17, and his career took him to roles as principal cello of several orchestras, including the Sydney Symphony where he made his conducting debut in 2018. He’s now Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, but he still finds time to play his cello, and will be performing with SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and ACO Principal Violist Stefanie Farrands for My Gypsy Soul, for two concerts at the Great Synagogue on Tuesday, May 16, thanks to Live at Yours.

In this conversation, Umberto shares some of his incredible musical knowledge and insights, from the broad sweep of how a chief conductor shapes an orchestra, to the detail of interpreting metronome markings, and we hear what a revolution in music sounds like.

Australian born composer and pianist Tom Donald is known worldwide for his mesmerizing piano improvisations and award-winning compositions for the stage and screen. The founder of the London Contemporary School of Piano, he’s presented and performed with the BBC, recorded at Abbey Road, and written for the media. He’s not afraid to bend and merge genres, with his latest album, Pax Aeterna, a musical collaboration with the Benedictine monks of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland, which is available now to buy and stream digitally.

In this conversation, Tom tells the intriguing story of the collaboration with the monks of Pluscarden Abbey, speaks of his musical journey from Coonabarabran to London via a piano bar in Tamworth, and shares some secrets of the art of improvisation.