Limelight

3 June, 2026

Classical Music, Dance, Opera, Theatre

Australian live arts audiences are growing, but so is the cost barrier

Rising costs have prohibited more than half of Australians from attending a live show, while classical music audiences grow, finds Creative Australia in its latest survey.

3 June, 2026

Classical Music

Australian makes the semis of Michael Hill International Violin Competition

Sydney-born, Berlin-based violinist Beatrice Colombis competes for a first prize that includes $40,000 NZ and a recording deal.

2 June, 2026

Chamber, Classical Music, Experimental, Instrumental

Australian Accent – June 2026

Your essential coast-to-coast guide to the Australian music being played on our concert stages this month.

2 June, 2026

Theatre

Back to Back Theatre receives another international honour

The Geelong-based theatre company will be the first Australians to hold the significant position of Portrait artist at the Festival d'Automne à Paris.

2 June, 2026

Opera

2026 Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award announced

Brisbane-born soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas receives $25,000 to support her rapidly-rising international career.

1 June, 2026

Classical Music

Songbirds take over the Melbourne Recital Centre

Simone Slattery and Anthony Albrecht discuss The Bowerbird Collective's Melbourne debut at Elizabeth Murdoch Hall, featuring a cinematic ode to the evolution of song.

25 May, 2026

Classical Music

Horrible Ends

At this year’s Australian Festival of Chamber Music, a concert inspired by Horrible Histories will explore the demise of several composers.

25 May, 2026

Classical Music, Orchestral

Playing Up: The Piccolo with Linda Stuckey

Soon to play with the Australian World Orchestra, Linda Stuckey, Associate Principal Piccolo with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, explains why the piccolo is such a dangerous instrument.

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Live Reviews

Theatre

Live Review

Review: Eurydice (Melbourne Shakespeare Company)

A strange fever dream of a production leads you down the highway to hell and back.

June 1, 2026

Theatre

Live Review

Review: 1154 Days (Arts House)

China's detention of journalist Cheng Lei is an important and compelling story but one that might best be served in other formats.

June 1, 2026

Classical Music

Live Review

Review: Revolution Remixed (Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra)

Camerata delivered thrilling accounts of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony and Julian Yu's reimagination of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

June 1, 2026

Theatre

Live Review

Review: Tootsie (Teatro & On Your Feet Australia Pty Ltd)

Andrew Bevis delivers an impressive performance in the dual role of Michael and Dorothy in this entertaining musical comedy.

June 1, 2026

Opera

Live Review

Review: Opera Gala (Snow Concert Hall)

This concert of arias and duets was exceedingly well curated and performed; another feather in the cap for Artistic Director Ana de la Vega.

June 1, 2026

Classical Music, Orchestral

Live Review

Review: Jaime conducts Dvořák, Smetana & Coll (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

A program pairing Czech classics with a new piano concerto balances frenetic virtuosity and thoughtful contemplation.

June 1, 2026

Rebels with a Cause

Eddy Chen and Brett Yang have become YouTube sensations as TwoSet Violin, taking classical music to new audiences through their tongue-in-cheek videos.

29 May, 2026

Classical Music, Opera

The Shock of the Baroque

Ahead of his tour with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Italian baritone Renato Dolcini reflects on his passion for Baroque music and his collaboration with William Christie.

25 May, 2026

Chamber, Classical Music, Festivals, Film, Musical Theatre & Cabaret, Opera, Orchestral

Read the June 2026 issue of Limelight

6 May, 2026

Supported by

The Art of Asking

As the end of the financial year approaches, we look into the Australian Cultural Fund’s revolutionary rethinking of the ways in which artists can connect with potential donors.

25 May, 2026

Classical Music

The Cost of Controversy

Samuel Cairnduff explores how political pressure, weak leadership and funding models are reshaping what Australian arts organisations dare to do.

25 May, 2026

Theatre

Reframing Bennelong

Steve Dow talks with actors Googoorewon Knox and Guy Simon, and playwright Jane Harrison about her new play Bennelong in London.

13 February, 2026

Chamber, Classical Music, News

Travelling North: Limelight launches first arts tour

Limelight partners with Australian Festival of Chamber Music for an immersive Cairns experience led by Rachel Whealy.

25 May, 2026

Classical Music, Opera

A Merry Art

Ahead of her title-role debut in Opera Australia’s The Merry Widow, soprano Emma Pearson tells us why operetta deserves pride of place alongside opera.

Classical Music

news

Australian makes the semis of Michael Hill International Violin Competition

Sydney-born, Berlin-based violinist Beatrice Colombis competes for a first prize that includes $40,000 NZ and a recording deal.

June 3, 2026

Classical Music, Dance, Opera, Theatre

news

Australian live arts audiences are growing, but so is the cost barrier

Rising costs have prohibited more than half of Australians from attending a live show, while classical music audiences grow, finds Creative Australia in its latest survey.

June 3, 2026

Classical Music, Vocal & Choral

CD and Other Review

Review: Tomorrow is Today (Papagena)

Immaculate quintet go on a journey from Hildegard to Kate Bush.

June 2, 2026

Chamber, Classical Music, Experimental, Instrumental

features

Australian Accent – June 2026

Your essential coast-to-coast guide to the Australian music being played on our concert stages this month.

June 2, 2026

Classical Music

features

Songbirds take over the Melbourne Recital Centre

Simone Slattery and Anthony Albrecht discuss The Bowerbird Collective's Melbourne debut at Elizabeth Murdoch Hall, featuring a cinematic ode to the evolution of song.

June 1, 2026

Classical Music, Orchestral

news

Australian Youth Orchestra opens 2027 applications

Aspiring young orchestral musicians can apply to AYO for a range of programs to uplift both performance and professional skills.

June 1, 2026

Opera

Classical Music, Dance, Opera, Theatre

news

Australian live arts audiences are growing, but so is the cost barrier

Rising costs have prohibited more than half of Australians from attending a live show, while classical music audiences grow, finds Creative Australia in its latest survey.

June 3, 2026

Opera

news

2026 Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award announced

Brisbane-born soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas receives $25,000 to support her rapidly-rising international career.

June 2, 2026

Opera

Live Review

Review: Opera Gala (Snow Concert Hall)

This concert of arias and duets was exceedingly well curated and performed; another feather in the cap for Artistic Director Ana de la Vega.

June 1, 2026

Classical Music, Opera

features

The Shock of the Baroque

Ahead of his tour with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Italian baritone Renato Dolcini reflects on his passion for Baroque music and his collaboration with William Christie.

May 29, 2026

Opera

news

OA announces its 2026–27 Young Artists

Jake Lyle, who played The Phantom on Sydney Harbour, is one of OA's new Young Artists, who will perform in concert with the graduating class in August.

May 28, 2026

Classical Music, Opera

Live Review

Review: Dark Sky Serenade (Opera Queensland)

An unforgettable Australian night of opera inspired by the landscape and spirit of the outback.

May 27, 2026

Theatre

Classical Music, Dance, Opera, Theatre

news

Australian live arts audiences are growing, but so is the cost barrier

Rising costs have prohibited more than half of Australians from attending a live show, while classical music audiences grow, finds Creative Australia in its latest survey.

June 3, 2026

Theatre

news

Back to Back Theatre receives another international honour

The Geelong-based theatre company will be the first Australians to hold the significant position of Portrait artist at the Festival d'Automne à Paris.

June 2, 2026

Theatre

Live Review

Review: Eurydice (Melbourne Shakespeare Company)

A strange fever dream of a production leads you down the highway to hell and back.

June 1, 2026

Theatre

Live Review

Review: 1154 Days (Arts House)

China's detention of journalist Cheng Lei is an important and compelling story but one that might best be served in other formats.

June 1, 2026

Theatre

Live Review

Review: Tootsie (Teatro & On Your Feet Australia Pty Ltd)

Andrew Bevis delivers an impressive performance in the dual role of Michael and Dorothy in this entertaining musical comedy.

June 1, 2026

Theatre

Live Review

Review: Anna X (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre)

The real-life fake heiress who was the subject of a Netflix mini-series is the inspiration for this fast-paced, dialogue-driven play.

May 28, 2026

Dance

Classical Music, Dance, Opera, Theatre

news

Australian live arts audiences are growing, but so is the cost barrier

Rising costs have prohibited more than half of Australians from attending a live show, while classical music audiences grow, finds Creative Australia in its latest survey.

June 3, 2026

Dance, Theatre, Visual Art, Vocal & Choral

news