In Conversation

One of the world’s most sought-after cellists, Daniel Müller-Schott performs on all the international concert stages, whether it’s with the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, or the Gewandhaus Orchestra. He’s worked with the world’s greatest conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Andris Nelsons and Simone Young, and recorded over 30 albums for a diverse array of labels. He also enjo...

Award-winning Australian soprano Cathy-Di Zhang has performed extensively with Opera Australia as well as for Victorian Opera and the State Opera of South Australia. She has sung with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Perth Symphonic Chorus and as a soloist with orchestras and chamber groups throughout Europe and Asia. In this conversation, Cathy-Di reflects on her somewhat unconventional jour...

The “Rock stars of Renaissance music” is how  The New York Times  described the award winning British vocal ensemble The Tallis Scholars . Founder and artistic director Peter Phillips has devoted his life to creating the ideal choral sound, and exploring many neglected gaps in the polyphonic repertoire. He’s also commissioned many contemporary composers including Eric Whitacre, John Tavener and Ni...

As a self-described “post-post modern diva”, Meow Meow is one of the world’s most outstanding cabaret artists. She has played to sold-out venues from London to New York, and Berlin to Sydney. Winner of the Edinburgh Fringe Prize in 2010, and a Helpmann Award in 2012, she’s performed with the great Barrie Humphries, been commissioned by David Bowie, and created roles in London’s West End.  Berliner...

British organist Martin Baker has spent a lifetime at the keyboard, from the moment he first touched the instrument as a child to his twenty years as Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral. Along the way he has become one of the world’s most sought-after organists, known especially for his dazzling improvisations. Martin reflects on the twists of fate that shaped his career, from early lessons o...

Tony Award-winning director John Rando has staged some of Broadway’s most inventive and entertaining productions – from  Urinetown  to  On the Town ,  The Wedding Singer  to  Mr. Saturday Night . He was one of the creative forces behind the stage musical version of  Back to the Future  in both the West End and on Broadway, which he is now bringing to Australia. In this lively and wide-ranging conv...

Tara Morice has been a beloved presence on Australian stage and screen for more than three decades. Best known for her breakout role as Fran in Baz Luhrmann’s  Strictly Ballroom  – a performance that earned her BAFTA and AFI nominations – Tara has built a career across film, television and theatre that is as varied as it is enduring. In this wide-ranging conversation, Tara reflects on the global p...

The repertoire of Australia’s leading recorder virtuoso, Genevieve Lacey, ranges from medieval manuscripts to cutting-edge contemporary commissions. She has a love of both the very old and the very new in music, performing on an instrument that has become a bridge between worlds that are centuries apart. She discusses her remarkable journey, from growing up in Papua New Guinea, to her musically fo...

Brett Weymark has spent over two decades as Artistic and Music Director of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs , shaping the sound of one of Australia’s leading choral organisations. Along the way he has conducted every major Australian orchestra, worked with Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera, and even brought his skills to the big screen conducting film scores including  Happy Feet  and  Mad Max: Fur...

Few musicians have expanded the horizons of their instrument quite like harpist Alice Giles . From winning the Israel International Harp Contest at just 21, to acclaimed performances across Europe and America, Alice has become one of the world’s most celebrated harpists — praised for her artistry, imagination and technical brilliance. But her journey has not always been conventional: she’s perform...

Actor, director, playwright, and singer Brittanie Shipway has worn just about every creative hat there is – and worn them brilliantly. From starring in  The Dismissal ,  Chess , and  The Pirates of Penzance  to writing her own acclaimed play  A Letter for Molly , Brittanie’s career is a tapestry of performance, storytelling, and cultural connection. In this conversation, Brittanie shares the visio...

One of the foremost clarinettists and leading artists of his generation, Michael Collins has shared his dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship to audiences the world over. He’s served as the principal of the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, and has been conductor of several orchestras, including serving as principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia for most of the 201...

Whether as a singer and musical director of  The Swingle Singers , or composing choral works that are sung across the globe, or championing women in music, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange has made an indelible mark on the choral and jazz worlds alike.  In this wide-ranging and deeply personal interview, Joanna reflects on her remarkable musical journey – from a childhood shaped by foster care and early s...

One of Australia’s most talented creatives, Toby Schmitz is a beloved actor on stage (including Broadway) and screen, from the works of Shakespeare and Tom Stoppard to TV dramas such as  Black Sails  and  The Pacific . He’s directed at the Darlinghurst Theatre and The Old Fitz, and is also a playwright, winning the Patrick White Award for his play  Lucky  in 2002. And as if that weren't enough...

The New York Times   Magazine  dubbed Danielle de Niese as “opera’s coolest soprano”. Melbourne born, she has gained worldwide acclaim for her beautiful stagecraft, and superb communication. She regularly appears on the world’s most prestigious opera and concert stages, from Hamburg to New York, and from Glyndebourne to the BBC Proms. She has six solo albums to her name, and has won an Emmy for he...

An Australian soprano who has established herself as one the leading artists of her generation, Nicole Car is a fixture at all of the world’s top opera houses, be it the Met, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, or the Sydney Opera House. She’s praised for her beautiful, rich timbre and unique musicality, with Limelight magazine speaking recently of her unfailingly clear a...

One of Australia’s most beloved tenor crossover artists, Mark Vincent burst into our consciousness thanks to a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma on Australia’s Got Talent in 2009, and never looked back. He has performed in venues around the world, and eight of his albums to date have topped the ARIA Classical Crossover charts. He’s also performed in musical theatre, from  Dirty Dancing  to  My Fa...

Conductor and music director Sam Allchurch’s repertoire spans the works of Bach and Handel through to contemporary works by Australian composers. The Sydney Morning Herald said that under his leadership, “Sydney Chamber Choir’s singing is as nuanced and refined as ever, and their spirit abounds in hope”. Sam returns to In Conversation to discuss the Sydney Chamber Choir's 50th anniversary gala...

Helena Rathbone has long been a central and beloved figure in Australia’s musical life. As Principal Violin and sometimes leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra , she brings both incisive musicianship and deep artistic integrity to everything she touches. She’s equally at home leading string ensembles, mentoring young musicians, or stepping into a solo spotlight. In this wide-ranging and warm...

Associate Conductor of The Sixteen, Eamonn Dougan has built a reputation as an inspirational communicator with a wide-ranging and adventurous repertoire. In addition to his work with The Sixteen, he is the founding director of Britten Sinfonia Voices and Music Director of the Thomas Tallis Society. The website  Bachtrack  perhaps sums him up best, praising his “remarkable knack for finding the per...

One of Australia’s foremost young conductors, Luke Spicer has appeared as guest conductor of the Tasmanian, Queensland, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and as a conductor and music director with Opera Australia. He’s also been guest Assistant Conductor at the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, the Saarländisches Staatstheater of Saarbrücken, and with the Sydney Symphony, working with both Simone Young and...

Susannah Lawergren has developed a reputation as a beautifully clear soprano with “stunning vocal expression” and “compelling stagecraft”. A principal artist with both The Song Company and Bach Akadamie Australia, she’s also performed with our other top ensembles, from Sydney Chamber Choir and Opera Australia, to Cantillation and Ensemble Offspring, plus has appeared at the Sydney and Adelaide Fes...

One of Australia’s finest mezzo-sopranos, multi-award-winner Sally-Anne Russell has a career spanning over 80 operatic roles and performances on some of the world's most prestigious stages. She is celebrated for her rich, expressive voice and captivating artistry. From Baroque masterpieces to contemporary works, Sally-Anne has enchanted audiences across the globe. She’s worked with luminaries from...

A man who can only be described as musical theatre royalty, Michael Ball made his West End debut in 1985 as Marius in the original cast of  Les Misérables . He went on to play the lead role of Alex Dillingham in Andrew Lloyd  Webber’s Aspects of Love  in both the West End and on Broadway. He’s appeared in a long string of musicals covering all parts of the repertoire –  The Phantom of the Opera , ...

Described as a renegade opera star and cabaret artist, Ali McGregor began her career as a principal soprano with Opera Australia before running away to the circus to become an award winning cabaret performer. Nominated for an ARIA in 2014, she went on to win both a Green Room and Helpmann Award in 2015. She’s one of the most in-demand performers on the international festival circuit and is a forme...