The bumper October 2021 issue contains features exploring the Alice Springs World Chamber Orchestra, arts and the digital world, Max Richter's new album, Circa's classical collaborations, Henry Purcell's early years as a composer, and Australian dramatic soprano Marjorie Lawrence.

We chart the latest appointments and departures in the arts sector, among them Opera Australia's new CEO Fiona Allan and Jill Atkinson's retirement from Queensland Symphony Orchestra after 47 years as Principal Harp.

From heart-breaking cancellations due to COVID to funding lifelines, from awards to obituaries, we gather the arts news we have covered over the last month.

Christian Li recently released his debut album for Decca Classics, becoming the youngest soloist to record Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons for a major label – yet another first for the virtuosic, 13-year-old Melbourne violinist.

Six budding young dancers will spend a day with Queensland Ballet, while the winner will play a walk-on role in the QB production of The Nutcracker in December.

Brian Nebenzahl, the founder of Playbill, which publishes programs and organises merchandise for the performing arts in Australia and internationally, has died aged 86.

After cancelling two new productions, Cyrano and Sunday, Melbourne Theatre Company will receive $5 million from the Federal Government's COVID-19 Arts Sustainability Fund.

Young Australian ballet dancers Milei Lee and Amelia Soh have won a silver and bronze medal respectively at the Royal Academy of Dance's prestigious competition The Fonteyn.

A new partnership will see Queensland Ballet present two seasons at HOTA in 2022. The company will also build a new Production Centre at Yatala.

Barrie Kosky returns to the Adelaide Festival with his third operatic production, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel.

Based in Europe, Australian soprano Alexandra Flood is back home for a few months and discusses her career, quarantine at Howard Springs, forthcoming gigs and making the most of it during COVID.

Three Melbourne-based artists have launched a petition calling for the arts to be included in our daily news services in a similar way to sport.