Magazine: October 2026

October 2026

Features

Lifting the Lid

British pianist Paul Lewis on playing Beethoven and Mozart’s piano sonatas.

by Clive Paget

Bridging the Gap

An inside look at Australia’s orchestral fellowships.

by Emily Thornton

Curtain Up

Australia’s new and refurbished performance venues, and the closures.

by Jo Litson

Beyond the Flag

The Australian composers riding high at Musikfest Berlin, and what it means.

by Breandáin O'Shea

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Soundings

Interview

The Last-Minute Composer

As he puts his finishing touches to his new Flute Concerto, Joe Chindamo shares how he has translated Dorothy Parker’s cynicism into music.

by Jansson J. Antmann

Type

On the Record: October 2026

This month features David Greco and Erin Helyard’s latest Schubertiad, orchestral works by de Falla, McCabe and a whole host of Ukrainians.

by Clive Paget

Cutting Edge

Gratitude Times Fifty

A video of Chloe Kim’s ambitious project, Music for 50 Musicians, will receive its premiere screening in Sydney next month. She tells us about the work.

by Maddy Briggs

Opera

Turning Heads

Laura Hansford talks about her new production of Bizet’s Carmen for State Opera South Australia, in which Don José is seen to fail as a human being rather than its heroine.

by Ceridwen Spark

Classical Music

Essential Organs

Virtuoso British-Australian organist Joseph Nolan discusses recording the complete organ works of Charles-Valentin Alkan.

by Joseph Nolan

Books

The Lucky Son

★★★★ What Mao’s Last Dancer did next.

by Diana Simmonds

Film

Pressure

★★★½ In this D-Day war drama, director Anthony Maras forges a connection with the present.

by Jason Blake

In the Limelight

Newsworthy

A round-up of our recent news reports.

Comings and Goings

The latest arts appointments and departures.

On Stage

The buzz around live performance.

On Air & Online

Radio and streaming concert highlights.

Coda

Guy Noble's Soapbox

Keeping Things Mum

If you are creating something, Guy Noble recommends you don’t show an early draft to anyone for feedback. They may say it’s terrible, and they could be right – or wrong, as Tchaikovsky discovered.

Playing Up

Playing Up: The Marquis de Corberon Cello

The 1762 Stradivari cello turns 300 this year. Steven Isserlis, who has had it on loan since 2009, tells us why his life would lose all meaning if he had to return it.

World Premiere

Clarinet Concerto

James Ledger discusses his new Clarinet Concerto, composed especially for Perth-based musician Ashley Smith and commissioned by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

5 Questions For

Elizabeth Anderson

The Assistant Artistic Director and Manager of the Australian Chamber Choir discusses the many emotions behind the choir’s Encores 2026 concert and accompanying album.

My Music

Alex Budd

After working at Opera Australia for 19 years before becoming Director of Canberra Theatre Centre in 2019, Budd returned to OA as CEO in 2025. He believes music is a vital part of life.