January February 2023

Play Video about Limelight
Limelight

Features

It’s a new world for arts organisations, so what do they have in store this year?

by Yvonne Frindle, Paul Ballam-Cross, Deborah Jones, Steve Dow and Jansson J. Antmann

How Cate Blanchett prepared for the role of a high-profile conductor in TÁR.

by Harriet Cunningham

Noongar artists discuss their deepening relationship with Perth Festival.

by Steve Dow

Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur: a great testament to the sacrifices made by artists.

by Jansson J. Antmann

The role of philanthropy in the arts in Australia.

by Jennifer Radbourne

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

Jack Symonds is Artistic Director of Sydney Chamber Opera, as well as a composer, conductor and pianist. Fascinated by complex musical ideas, he never wants to make work resembling anything else.

by Jeremy Eccles

On The Record

This month, Meyerbeer gets his just desserts, it’s Elgar, Jim, but not as we know it, and is this the best Mahler Five ever?

by Clive Paget

Cutting Edge

Linda May Han Oh’s Ephemeral Echoes explores the nature of transience and time, and brings the composer home to Perth for its world premiere.

by Maddy Briggs

Interview

The original scores tell you how early music should be played, says Jordi Savall.

by Shamistha de Soysa

Books

Exploring one man and his method through the history of 20th-century Japan.

★★★½

by Brett Allen-Bayes

Film

Cate Blanchett excels as a great conductor with all-too-human flaws.

★★★½

by Lynden Barber

Film

Frances O’Connor’s dreamy film about Emily Brontë is propelled by emotions.

★★★★★

by Jessie Tu

Film

Florian Zeller’s latest film is surprisingly unkind to its Gen Z character.

★★½

by Michelle Wang

Interview

Meryl Tankard and Elena Kats-Chernin reunite for a new dance work about the here and now.

by Jo Litson

In the Limelight

Interview

A round-up of our recent news reports.

by Jo Litson

Interview

The buzz around live performance.

by Jansson J. Antmann, Clive Paget and Jo Litson

Interview

Radio and streaming concert highlights.

by Rita Clarke, Clive Paget and Chris Reid

Coda

Guy Noble's Soapbox

Guy Noble finds it hard to get to the bottom of life as an influencer, and wonders why one particular Instagrammer constantly posts pictures of her posterior.

by Guy Noble

Playing Up

William Barton began playing the didgeridoo at age seven on his Kalkadunga Country in north-west Queensland. He explains what drew him to the instrument, and how performing in classical concerts helps encourage reconciliation.

by William Barton

World Premiere

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Composer in Residence for 2023, Mary Finsterer, explains how her new work takes inspiration from the vast canon of musical settings of the Latin chant O magnum mysterium.

by Mary Finsterer

5 Questions For

The founder and first violin of the San Francisco-based Kronos Quartet explains the ethos behind 50 years of artistic collaborations.

by David Harrington

My Music

The new Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival recalls singing in Britten’s children’s choir, playing the French horn, and becoming a fan of Boulez.

by Ruth Mackenzie

Playlists

Staff and Contributors

Editor
Jo Litson

Deputy Editor A/g
Jansson J. Antmann

Designer
Tristan Main

Editor-­at-­Large
Clive Paget

Staff Writer
Maddy Briggs

Contributors
Brett Allen-Bayes, Paul Ballam-Cross, Lynden Barber, William Barton, Peter Berner, Rita Clarke, Harriet Cunningham, Shamistha de Soysa, Steve Dow, Jeremy Eccles, Yvonne Frindle, Deborah Jones, Ruth Mackenzie, Guy Noble, Jennifer Radbourne, Chris Reid, Jessie Tu, Michelle Wang

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
Unit 11, Level 1, 183 Macquarie St
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

Next issue available 20 February

This month’s cover image features Cate Blanchett in the role of conductor Lydia Tár from the film TÁR. Photo courtesy of Focus Features.