The pandemic has not entirely deserted us, but after two devastating years of lockdowns, restrictions and interruptions, the arts bounced back with a vengeance in 2022. Throughout the year, a host of artists created a plethora of memorable work in live and recorded performances.
While a vast amount of livestreaming and digital work continued to hold sway, after online platforms exploded during the COVID lockdowns, live shows and concerts returned to our stages.
Having consulted our reviewers, we put together a shortlist of 20 outstanding artists and ensembles – 10 from Australia and 10 from overseas. (For these awards, an international artist who leads an Australian orchestra, ensemble or arts company is considered an honorary Australian artist.) The nominees included composers, singers, instrumentalists, conductors, directors and ensembles, working in classical music and opera.
We then...
As a newish 3 month subscriber to find out if I want to subscribe on a permeant basis I am surprised to see the music awards are very Sydneycentric. We have a lot of good music happening here in Melbourne too! I hope to experience the refurbished concert hall at the Opera House soon but we have a Recital Centre with excellent acoustics so events there could provide artists to qualify for awards too.
I have to agree with other subscribers that the awards are Sydneycentric, I would like to go into bat for Adelaide and Hobart, as a Melbournian who attends as many concerts and opera’s as possible in my city I can also recommend some of the concerts in the other capitals as well, we need a magazine like Limelight but if it is to be a NSW biased there will be no point in subscribing.
Thanks for the feedback, we strive to be a national publication and have in the past few years expanded our review coverage to support this. We are always working to refine our Artist of the Year awards and this year and last year’s artists most nominated performed nationally.