Taking upon himself the task of addressing the relative dearth of trumpet repertoire, Swedish master Håkan Hardenberger has built a career on championing modern works from composers such as Henze and Pärt, among others. To these he adds recent concertos by Australian Brett Dean and Italian Luca Francesconi. Dean’s Dramatis Personae is a theatrical work, its first movement pitting a sometimes heroic, sometimes hapless hero against musical forces that constantly threaten to overwhelm. Soliloquy sees our hero turn inward and the work closes with the comical and mischievous Accidental Revolutionary, inspired by the antics of Charlie Chaplin. Hardenberger’s acrobatics underscore this modern musing on the relationship between soloist and orchestra, struggling with and against the Gothenberg Symphony under Storgårds. Francesconi’s Hard Pace is rather different, evoking the lonely lyricism of the trumpet. The composer refers to an affection for Miles Davis in the liner notes. Where Francesconi’s jazz training emerges, however, one is reminded more of the exquisitely spare tension of Polish trumpeter, Tomasz Stan´ko. His evocation of Davis is, however, not so much a referenced musical style as it is about language, poetry, and song. Cast on this curious pairing as both the romantic bard and the virtuosic hero,…

The Quartet’s offerings include a new quartet by James Ledger, as well as works by Dean, Widmann, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

In his new work to be premiered by the SSO, the ‘singer/songwriter who grew up’ plumbs ancient soul caves where art awaits. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

After a dazzling reception at Glyndebourne, Neil Armfield's production is coming to Adelaide – without a dog as Horatio.

David Robertson introduces his fifth season with Ax, Freire, Grosvenor, Mutter, Capuçon and Batiashvili among the headliners. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

The SSO Chief Conductor and Artistic Director is to stay through 2019, and has revealed a little of his 2018 programme.

Brett Dean’s new opera can be accessed for a limited time on the Telegraph and Glyndebourne websites. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

Shaham's forward and back Brahms odyssey appeals to head and heart.

Brett Dean wrangles the moody Dane into two-and-half hours of thrilling music theatre.

Composers from Berlioz to Verdi have shied away from the complex Dane, but not Dean, whose opera is opening at Glyndebourne.

Richard Tognetti's new odyssey leads a line up including Brett Dean's Hamlet, Orwell's 1984, Messiaen's Turangalîla and more.

The renowned Australian stage director’s love of music and opera goes back to school days at Homebush Boys High. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in