The new national cultural policy, Revive: A Place for Every Story, a Story for Every Place, seems to prioritise Australian arts infrastructure existing, large-scale national institutions and, of course, bureaucracies at the expense of independent artists and, even more so, of art itself
Opera House organ maker filled hall with ‘swirling sound’
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By Malcolm Brown
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1929 -2021
Ron Sharp was devastated when, while designing the organ at the Sydney Opera House, he was told the ceiling was to be lowered, meaning the organ would have to be reduced to half its height. “It was like telling me to cut a Stradivarius violin in half,” he said later.
Ron Sharp pictured with the Opera House organ he designed and built, 1993.
Credit:Fairfax
“I saw that they wanted to build an indoor music shell. It would have been dead acoustically. Without thought, I said, ‘I am not going to let you bastards ruin a one-in-a-million chance to do something right for once. I am going to the press!’ I stormed off . quickly pursued by the committee. Peter Hall [the Opera House architect] was waving his arms, saying, ‘Ron, Ron, come back! You can have anything you want”’ The c
Carmina Burana review: Enthusiasm for lament of fate and fortune
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By Peter McCallum
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Sydney Philharmonia gives a tight, spirited performance in Carmina Burana at Sydney Town Hall.
Credit:Robert Catto
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The standing ovation that greeted Saturdayâs performance of Orffâs
Carmina Burana was no doubt partly due to the workâs crowd-stirring clamour and pulsating rhythmic energy, but Sydney Philharmoniaâs tight, spirited performance with the NSW Public Schools Junior Singers, pianists Catherine Davis and Claire Howard Race and a fine group of percussionists under conductor Brett Weymark deserves credit as the catalyst that unleashed the enthusiasm.