When Anna-Louise Cole first auditioned for the University of Melbourne, she was torn between playing cello and singing, but vocal studies won the day. Now the exciting young Australian soprano is to make her role debut as Turandot and, next year, Brünnhilde for Opera Australia.

Shamray’s recital – featuring works by Debussy, Rachmanninov, Ravel and Scriabin – was a thrilling and profound experience of programming and performance.

The annual festive fixture includes a world premiere, several carols and some delightful inclusions, but some distractions too.

With graceful, discreet and precise conducting from Madeleine Easton, Bach Akademie brings rich life to Bach's allegorical music, from celestial heights to the depths of despair.

The Sydney Chamber Choir demonstrates its versatility with a concert ranging from Renaissance music to Britten to an impressive new song cycle by Australian composer Joseph Twist.

Our favourite books for music lovers to relish this summer.

What do we want from music reviews these days, when anyone can publish online?

Soprano Franziska Heinzen and pianist Benjamin Mead tell us about their second duo album Women Composers, featuring 24 art songs by 24 women composers written across close to 200 years.

Music lessons have had to pivot to Zoom during lockdown, but while there are major drawbacks to this it has also offered new intimacies.

Cairns-based Marliya Choir, comprising First Nations women, will open the WOW (Women of the World) Australia 2021 Festival with a performance of award-winning song cycle Spinifex Gum.

How do we ensure that adventurous new music gets more than one performance?

The Forelle Ensemble, a new Sydney-based piano quintet formed by young violinist James Armstrong, has made its debut with its Schubertiade Opening Concert.