Paul Ballam-Cross is a writer and classical guitarist. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance and a Doctor of Philosophy, majoring in Musicology. He loves collecting records and will happily spend hours researching everything from the Baroque to noise rock.
Our team of expert writers explores the challenges, themes and highlights in the year ahead for arts companies.
What do our small to medium ensembles have on offer in the year ahead?
Children’s music might be educational, but it can be so much more. We look at composers who wrote works specifically for children to play.
Brisbane art music specialists Topology take a back seat in a show that feels like a spin across a radio dial.
Strange and beautiful ear-expanding sounds for strings from Liza Lim.
Spanish pianist goes for Baroque in a colourful all-Scarlatti recital.
Bohème again – but this staging slays with stunning performances and design.
Hymns, barricades and cockatoo cries fill this viola-meets-synth recital.
Seraphim Trio sparks up with vivid, underperformed chamber works.
Let the actors act, let the orchestras orch – QSO meets John Bell on an uneven playing field.
All-Russian recital celebrates 50 years of the ACO.
Seven’s the magic number in Ensemble Q’s surprising chamber recital.
A punchy Prokofiev outshone by James Ehnes’ stunning Barber concerto.
