Melbourne artist Lynn Savery has won the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize for her self-portrait exploring gender norms.

The Metropolitan Orchestra’s maestro will join Sean O’Boyle at the helm of next year’s festival on the Gold Coast.

The line-up includes the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Moscow's Sretensky Monastery Choir, and Meryl Tankard's Two Feet performed by Natalia Osipova.

She takes home $5000 in cash after being awarded first place at the inaugural competition held in Melbourne.

The 50th anniversary program features four Australian choreographers and a 50-strong piece by Gideon Obarzanek.

One of Australia's most passionate and beloved conductors and music educators has passed away.

Dame Emma Kirkby, pianist Stefan Vladar, Elena Kats-Chernin and the Australian String Quartet are among the guests at this year’s Festival on NSW’s Far South Coast.

A report by Live Performance Australia has shown that much of Victoria's increase in audience and revenue share has been driven by musicals.

Artistic Director Patrick Nolan tells us about his first program for the company, at the centre of which are works by John Adams, Puccini and Gluck.

Artistic Director Alexander Briger will lead the orchestra in some of his favourite works, in concerts in Melbourne and Canberra.

The line-up includes Kaija Saariaho's oratorio La Passion de Simone, Schaübuhne's Beware of Pity and a divisive play called Daughter that has had women walking out.

The broadcaster will be known as ABC Classic from January, while long-serving presenter Christopher Lawrence retires from weekly broadcasting.