Features

How Charles Brooks probes the inner world of musical instruments.

by Jason Blake

The world’s number one tenor discusses his latest role debut.

by Jansson J. Antmann

The dismissal as a rollicking musical? Norman Gunston leads the way.

by Jo Litson

Transforming a Brisbane warehouse into an eerie, water-logged world.

by Elissa Blake

After 200 years, Joseph Bologne’s reputation is finally restored.

by Jansson J. Antmann

Subscription Offer

Read Australia’s finest coverage of music, arts and culture in 2024.

Limelight subscribers have full access to news, features and reviews by our expert writers, in print and online.

Subscriptions start from $4 per month, but you can save up to 50% when you choose an annual Limelight print and digital subscription. In addition to the hard copy magazines, you will receive free digital access to our past issues and exclusive online content.

Subscribe, renew or give a Limelight gift subscription and you could win 20 Prospero Classical CDs. Offer ends 23 July.

Soundings

Interview

Two years ago, Katie Noonan formed the a cappella vocal quartet AVÉ. Now, ABC Classic is about to release the ensemble’s debut album, Tumbling Like Stars. Noonan is incredibly proud of it – but recording it was one of the most challenging things she’s ever done.

by Jo Litson

On the Record

Danes complete their Prism project, Bychkov delivers a blistering Resurrection, outstanding Beethoven from Ohlsson in the mountains, and Piers Lane goes to town . . . again!

by Clive Paget

World Premiere

Sally Greenaway reveals how she responded to our collective experience of navigating the pandemic in her poignant new work for four double basses, The Sky is Also Yours.

by Sally Greenaway

opera

A new podcast lifts the lid on the opera world and helps young artists find their way in the industry.

by Jansson J. Antmann

Cutting Edge

Samantha Wolf explains how bonding with reality TV during the pandemic inspired her new piece, which was composed as the 2022 Noisy Women Commission for Ensemble Offspring.

by Samantha Wolf

Books

Insight, humour and the unexpected litter Hough’s childhood memoir.

★★★★

by Will Yeoman

Film

Not an easy film, but hugely rewarding and occasionally quite breathtaking.

★★★★★

by Jason Blake

Film

Set in the 1960s, and starring Kathy Bates, Laura Linney and Maggie Smith, this film touches lightly on women’s rights, faith and miracles.

★★★

by Jason Blake

In the Limelight

A round-up of our recent news reports.

The latest arts appointments and departures.

The buzz around live performance.

Radio and streaming concert highlights.

Coda

Guy Noble's Soapbox

Rather than drop the offensive lyrics from the outdated, patriotic songs so loved at Last Night of the Proms concerts, why not rewrite them suggests Guy Noble.

Playing Up

Heather Shannon explains how her new work, Strange Roses, features a dialogue between synthesizer and orchestra that is in harmony one moment and in stark opposition the next.

A bee in my bonnet

John Maidment laments the absence of a grand organ in Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.

5 Questions For

The Composer-in-Residence at this year’s Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) explains how the theft of an 18th-century viola helped turn her into a composer.

My Music

From his preschool days and weekly newspaper run to a reluctant walk-out from the opera, the Australian Minister for the Arts relives his musical rite of passage.

Playlists

Staff and Contributors

Print Editor
Jo Litson

Digital Editor
Jason Blake

Designer
Tristan Main

Editor-­at-­Large
Clive Paget

Staff Writer
Maddy Briggs

Contributors
Jansson J. Antmann, Peter Berner, The Hon Tony Burke MP, Sally Greenaway, John Maidment, Hugo Mathers, Steve Moffatt, Guy Noble, Chris Reid, Heather Shannon, Samantha Wolf, Will Yeoman

Publisher

Limelight Arts Media Pty Ltd

Chief Executive Officer
Cara Anderson

Subscriptions & Operations Manager
William Jeffery

Sales Manager
Carla Bird

For advertising enquiries contact (02) 8599 4205 or advertising@limelight-­arts.com.au

Limelight Subscriptions
Click here or phone (02) 8227 6486 weekdays, 9am–5pm NSW

Limelight Offices
Suite 606 Level 6, 84 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 8599 4204

Printing
Printed in Australia by IVE

Limelight is published by Limelight Arts Media Pty Ltd (ABN 34 624 578 801)

© 2023 Limelight Arts Media

No material may be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher