Barry

Towards Infinity: Birralee Blokes, directed by Paul Holley ABC Classics 476 4133

Sixteen diverse and uplifting tracks of choral music, sung by one of the premier male choral ensembles in Australia, should be in the CD collection of all interested in great choral music. Based in Brisbane, the Birralee Blokes, directed by the inspiring Paul Holley, is a group which has come to national attention through the … Read more

The Top 20 Christmas Carols ABC Classics 480 4624

There is something comforting about singing Carols at Christmas time. It helps to remind us of the true message of the Christmas story. After surveying readers of Limelight magazine, ABC Classics has put together a quality disc of carols, in fact the top 20. It should come as little surprise then, that Franz Gruber’s immortal … Read more

Scotland the Brave ABC Classics 476 4130 (2 CD set) ABC Classics 076 2795 (DVD)

Attracting large audiences right around the country, Scotland the Brave (the show) has been captured on CD and DVD for enthusiasts to relive the spectacle again and again. Whilst these recordings were from a live concert at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane last year, the spirit of Scotland is strongly evident, being based … Read more

Tears on Toast: Opera’s greatest tragedies and triumphs (ABC 480 3451)

This compilation of some of the great moments in opera came about from the ABC Classic FM segment of the same name and its presenter, Emma Ayres, who through her own inimitable wit seeks to “explain’ or help listeners through the complexities of operatic plots. Ayres reveals a unique take on the onstage antics of … Read more

A Tribute to John Cargher (3CD set) ABC 480 1379

John Cargher (1919-2008) presented Singers of Renown on ABC Radio National for 42 years. In all that time, he never missed a weekly programme. If travelling, for example, extra shows would be prepared in advance. He even managed one from a hospital bed when recovering from a broken bone! One of the programme’s great attributes was not … Read more

The Three-Cornered Hat: Spanish Fantasies – Southern Cross Soloists with Slava Grigoryan. ABC 476 6887

The typical elements of Spanish music, its rhythms, instrumentation and unique melodic lines, are most engagingly presented here by one of Australia’s most successful chamber ensembles, the Southern Cross Soloists (comprising Tania Frazer (oboe), Paul Dean (clarinet), Leesa Dean (bassoon), Peter Luff (horn), Kevin Power (piano) and Margaret Schindler (soprano). They have infused passion and … Read more

Ragging with Razz, Wirripang (Wirr 029)

This is a commemoration of 70 years of composition from one of Australia’s finest composers, Ann Carr-Boyd. There are solo works for cornet, viola and piano, as well as the chamber works The Razz Suite, Cool Valley and The Boulevarde Waltz (the latter of which appears both in string quartet form and solo piano form). … Read more

Piano Lessons: Anna Goldsworthy ABC Classics 476 4059

Australian pianist, Anna Goldsworthy began the study of piano with an Adelaide teacher, Eleonora Sivan. This charming disc is music emanating from Goldsworthy’s 2009 memoir, Piano Lessons. In it, she relives her childhood and development as a pianist, noting the significant moments and pieces that impacted on her. “After I published Piano Lessons, I was overwhelmed by … Read more