On the 15th and 17th November 2024, the SSO presented two performances of Die Walküre conducted by Simone Young. A small group attended from the Queensland Society and the consensus was that it was one of the most outstanding performances experienced. The singers, without exception, were fantastic, and the performance in concert allowed the interaction […]
Author Archive | Peter Bassett
Melbourne Opera Die Meistersinger 2025
Melbourne Opera’s production of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg will be performed at the historic Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne on Sunday 16 February 2025 at 3:00pm, Tuesday 18 February at 5:00pm, Thursday 20 February at 5:00pm, and Saturday 22 February at 3:00pm. Tickets are now on sale via the website www.melbourneopera.com. Cast lists and other […]
20 Years on from the 2004 Adelaide Ring
See InReview article at: A blazing spectacle: 20 years on, the Adelaide Ring remains unforgettable
The Ring in Concert, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Thursday 13 November 2025 at 6:00pm, and Sunday 16 November 2025 at 2:00pm. Concert Hall Sydney Opera House – Siegfried in concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simone Young. For complete cast and booking details see: www.sydneysymphony.com
WAGNER’S CHORUSES. Peter Bassett
Wagner’s choruses are amongst the glories of his stage works. They are central to the action, not extraneous to it, and the mood and style of each reflects the dramatic imperatives of the work concerned. The aptness of these choruses is illustrated in the final act of Der fliegende Holländer where three contrasting groups interact […]
Wagner in Love – and some potent recordings. Peter Bassett
Shakespeare drew inspiration from the ‘dark lady of the sonnets’ and Beethoven found solace in his mysterious ‘immortal beloved’, but Richard Wagner was often inspired by relationships closer to home. Fleeting romantic encounters and domestic celebrations stimulated a private, intimate style of art rarely associated with a composer best known for his lofty theatrical visions […]
A Wonderful Experience: Parsifal in an Unusual Place. Colin Mackerras
Colin Mackerras reviews a Parsifal performance in China.