April 2024

Play Video about The cover of Limelight's April 2024 isuse
The cover of Limelight's April 2024 issue

Features

Elgar’s Enigma Variations proved an instant hit, but what of its mystery?

by Clive Paget

Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb grill the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

by Harriet Cunningham

As busy as ever at 87, Steve Reich continues to blaze trails.

by Julian Day

Disability representation is improving on stage, but there’s more to be done.

by Steve Dow

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Soundings

Interview

Broadway superstar Audra McDonald explains why she studied classical voice at Juilliard and why her husband describes her as a “truth-seeking missile”.

by Jo Litson

On The Record

An enthralling Vivaldi survey is our Recording of the Month, alongside dynamic new releases from Lang Lang, Piotr Anderszewski and Sir Simon Rattle.

by Clive Paget

Cutting Edge

Elizabeth Jigalin and Oliver John Cameron discuss their new site-specific work Sonant Traces, which has its world premiere at Sydney’s White Bay Power Station this month.

by Elizabeth Jigalin & Oliver John Cameron

Opera

The first grand opera in Arabic opens in Saudi Arabia this month. Australian composer Lee Bradshaw tells us how he came to write the score.

by Jo Litson

Opera on Film

Simon Stone’s production for Opera di Roma has its hits and misses, but the optics are terrific and it’s impressive musically.

by Clive Paget

Books

★★★★ Sensual and spiky: a compelling portrait of a deeply complex human being.

by Will Yeoman

Film

★★★★ Wim Wenders’ languidly paced character study about a Tokyo toilet cleaner earned an Academy Award nomination.

by Jason Blake

In the Limelight

A round-up of our recent news reports.

The latest arts appointments and departures.

The buzz around live performance.

Radio and streaming concert highlights.

Coda

Guy Noble's Soapbox

This month, Guy Noble relives the magic of seeing two musical geniuses perform live.

Playing Up

Peter Neville, ANAM’s Head of Percussion, explains how the instruments were chosen for a concert featuring music by Mozart and Ligeti.

Sacred Cow

Opera director Greg Eldridge calls for us to put the ‘nonsensical’ term to bed.

5 Questions For

Opera Queensland’s CEO and Artistic Director tells us about Brisbane Bel Canto, the new festival opening this month.

My Music

Classical music has been a lifelong passion of the veteran actor and founding Artistic Director of Bell Shakespeare.

Playlists

Staff and Contributors

Print Editor
Jo Litson

Digital Editor
Jason Blake

Designer
Tristan Main

Editor-­at-­Large
Clive Paget

Staff Writer
Maddy Briggs

Contributors
Jansson J. Antmann, John Bell, Peter Berner, Oliver John Cameron, Harriet Cunningham, Julian Day, Steve Dow, Greg Eldridge, Elizabeth Jigalin, Peter Neville, Guy Noble, Phillip Scott, Will Yeoman

Publisher

Limelight Arts Media Pty Ltd

Chief Executive Officer / Managing Editor
Cara Anderson

Subscriptions & Operations Manager
William Jeffery

Sales Manager
Carla Bird

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The cover of Limelight's April 2024 issue