Features

We profile the winners and reveal our inaugural performance award.

by Peter Tregear, Jansson J. Antmann and Steve Moffatt

The creative movement inspired by Australia’s remote island state.

by Stephanie Eslake

Jessica Gethin on her flourishing career and new role at Orchestra Victoria.

by Harriet Cunningham

Thirty-six Shakespeare plays in eight days, animated by household items.

by Lenny Ann Low

Why is it that Australians can’t get enough of JS Bach?

by Steve Dow

Enjoy 12 months of Limelight’s music, arts and culture coverage.

Subscribe between 22 December and 22 February for your chance to win a 2025 Limelight Recording of the Year bundle. There are three prizes to be won.

  • $99 per year (AU only)
  • Free magazine delivery
  • Unlimited digital access
  • $48 per year
  • Unlimited digital access
  • Offer available worldwide

Soundings

Interview

German baritone Matthias Goerne talks to Limelight about why he is so drawn to Schubert’s Winterreise, which he will perform in Australia this month.

by Clive Paget

On the Record

This month features Spanish Baroque opera, castanets and all, pitch-perfect Mahler from Simon Rattle, and the winner of a notorious song contest (hint: it isn’t Eurovision).

by Clive Paget

Cutting Edge

Audible Edge is “an experimental music bender” in Boorloo/Perth. Its co-curators give us the festival low-down.

by Annika Moses and Josten Myburgh

Opera

Australian tenor Thomas Edmonds tells us about life on the opera stage and the people he’s met along the way.

by Jansson J. Antmann

Books

★★★★ A noteworthy Australian composer explores the musical gardens he has tended.

by Will Yeoman

Film

★★★½ Ex-con Johnny “Spit” Spitieri has zero leading man appeal – but David Wenham is so brilliant in the role, you’ll fall for him anyway.

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

Discovering how many Brian Coxes there are, Guy Noble envisages a special conference. Perhaps he could organise a Guy Noble get-together as well.

Playing Up

Saxophonist and composer Jabra Latham discusses the journey to his new Saxophone Concerto for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

World Premiere

When the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra talked to Elena Kats-Chernin about performing her work Fast Blue Village for string orchestra, she decided to revisit, revise and refresh the piece. She explains why.

5 Questions For

Pinchgut Opera’s Artistic Director discusses playing the Goldberg Variations on a two-manual harpsichord as JS Bach intended.

My Music

The leading lady discusses finding her voice and learning to play the harp for her current role as Arwen in The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale.

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, Peter Berner, Stefanie Caccamo, Harriet Cunningham, Steve Dow, Stephanie Eslake, Elena Kats-Chernin, Jabra Latham, Lenny Ann Low, Steve Moffatt, Annika Moses, Josten Myburgh, Chris Reid, Peter Tregear, Will Yeoman

Publisher

Limelight Arts Media Pty Ltd

Chief Executive Officer
Cara Anderson

Subscriptions & Operations Manager
William Jeffery

Sales Manager
Carla Bird

For advertising enquiries contact (02) 8599 4205 or advertising@limelight-­arts.com.au

Limelight Subscriptions
Click here or phone (02) 8227 6486 weekdays, 9am–5pm NSW

Limelight Offices
Suite 606 Level 6, 84 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 8599 4204

Printing
Printed in Australia by IVE

Limelight is published by Limelight Arts Media Pty Ltd (ABN 34 624 578 801)

© 2025 Limelight Arts Media

No material may be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher