In Conversation

One of the UK’s most sought-after baritones, Roderick Williams has a vast repertoire which spans from the baroque to world premieres. He was called the greatest living baritone by Britain’s Daily Telegraph, and The New York Times labelled him a natural and expressive communicator in song. He has performed at Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw and the Musikverein, and composed for and performed in the coronation of King Charles III.

Roddy is infectiously cheerful, and his musical selections highlight key points of his career. He shares stories with joy and humility, from his idyllic childhood and the discovery of his massive potential to performing at some significant events of the 21st Century. 

This conversation was recorded at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in late July. 

A pianist who The New Yorker described as “New York’s queen of avant-garde piano”, Lisa Moore has performed with the London Sinfonietta, Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney, Canberra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras to name just a few, and has played under the baton of luminaries like Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, David Robertson and Edo de Waart. She’s appeared in venues from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, and been part of over 30 albums.
Lisa has made her career performing music of living composers. In this conversation she speaks with great passion about this music, sharing great insights about it plus her career journey as a modern pianist.

Since recording this interview, Lisa is happy to announce the release in early 2025 of the new album from Crux Duo, a collaboration between herself and clarinettist Lloyd Van’t Hoff. Called My Place, it’s a compilation of modern Australian and American works written and arranged especially for them, including by Elena Kats-Chernin, Erik Griswold, Nick Russoniello, Harriet Steinkee, and Martin Bresnick, and will be released on the ABC Classics label.
Lisa and Lloyd will perform a concert launching the album at the Goethe Institute, as part of the Goethe Lounge Series, at 6pm on Wednesday 22 January 2025.

Opera singer Katherine Wiles has been a permanent member of the Opera Australia chorus since 2007, and has performed several principal roles there as well as in South Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. She s performed at the Edinburgh Festival and on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Katherine’s new book, No Autographs Please, tells the tale of the backstage antics, onstage disasters and the long road to success of an opera singer. Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan says that her account of life as a chorus member is “full of wit and behind the scenes revelations”, while Todd McKenney says that the book proves that “the real stars of any show are the chorus”.
Katherine tells us about her inspiration for writing this book, and gives us a no holds barred take on what it’s like taking your bow from the second row.

No Autographs Please is out now from all good book retailers.

A composer who Australian Stage has dubbed “the most interesting voice in Australian composition for many years”, Harry Sdraulig has risen to prominence through a string of collaborations with renowned artists and organisations. He’s composed for The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva, the Australia Ensemble, as well as the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and has also been commissioned by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. 

Harry shares some great insights and perspectives on the life a composer, and he introduces some of the compositions which have featured at key points of his career.

Harry Sdaulig’s new work, Triptych, is performed by the Omega Ensemble as part of their Concertante tour, 1-5 October in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle.

“The complete package!” is how Tim Draxl has been described for his performance as Joe Gillis in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard, currently playing at the Sydney Opera House. That part is just the latest in a long line of Tim’s roles in his 20-plus year career which has garnered him nominations for AACTAs, Logies, and a Helpmann Award. On stage he has appeared in musicals such as Jagged Little Pill, Into the Woods and Catch Me If You Can. He is a familiar face on TV, most particularly for his long running role in A Place to Call Home, and more recently the ABC series about the Australian response to the AIDS crisis, In Our Blood. His films include Swimming Upstream and Blacklight among many others. He’s also no stranger to cabaret, and has released four albums.

Tim takes us through his career from budding cabaret performer, through his time in Hollywood and to his most recent roles. He candidly shares the story of coming out publicly, his embrace of which has led him to be a part of several ground-breaking productions and being an inspiration for many LGTBQIA+ Australians, young and old.

Tim Draxl plays Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House until 1 November.

International icon Sarah Brightman began her stage career at the age of just 13, and never looked back. She’s best known for creating the role of Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera both in the West End and on Broadway, the cast album of which is the highest selling cast album in history. She went on to a stellar recording career, having released dozens of albums. She’s now in Australia, ready for her close up, performing the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.

Sarah revisits the early days of her career development. We hear about her breakthrough in Cats, the success of The Phantom of the Opera, plus her subsequent recording career which includes iconic performances with Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras. Sarah also tells about training to be an astronaut!

Sarah Brightman stars as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard from 28 August to 1 November at the Sydney Opera House. 

French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca has been hailed by Gramophone as “a master of his instrument” and by Le Monde as belonging to “the French Cello Elite”. He has appeared at major concert venues around the world, whether it’s Paris, New York, London or Vienna. He performs across musical genres, and his recordings receive unanimous critical acclaim.

In this conversation, Christian-Pierre delves into two of his albums of recent years, Cello360 and his environmentally themed project Wonderful World, both of which have appeared in concert, plus a preview of his new album, Legacy. He also talks about the challenges and opportunities for artists of the modern era of social media and streaming services.

This edition of In Conversation was recorded at the 2024 Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville. The next festival runs from 25 July to 4 August 2025.

James O’Donnell performs the opening recital for the new Bicentennial pipe organ at St James King Street on Friday 26 July. 

James O’Donnell is one of the leading organists and choral conductors of his generation. He was Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, and subsequently Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey for over 20 years, during which time he was responsible for the music at several significant events – most notably the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Katherine, and the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Since 2023 he has been Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at Yale.

In this conversation, James shares some of the history of the remarkable institutions he has served, and we delve into some of the recordings he has made with the Choirs of Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. We also hear about some of the broader responsibilities which came with his service at Westminster Abbey.

James O’Donnell performs the opening recital for the new Bicentennial pipe organ at St James King Street on Friday 26 July. 

A two-time Grammy nominee, Rod Gilfry is a singer and actor who performs across opera, musicals, recitals and cabaret, all over the world. His opera repertoire in particular is vast, spanning 75 roles. He’s come to Opera Australia and the Sydney Opera House to perform one of the many roles in new operas that he has created – Claudius in Brett Dean’s Hamlet, directed by Neil Armfield. Rod has already performed this role at the Met in New York and at Glyndebourne in the UK.

Rod takes us through his long career which began in school choirs and musicals in California, and speaks passionately about some of the roles he has played. In particular, he takes us through the joys and challenges of creating some of these new roles, including his acclaimed performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. 

Rod Gilfry plays Claudius in Brett Dean’s Hamlet from 20 July to 9 August in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, undoubtedly ranks as one of the world’s best-known choral groups. Founded in the 15th Century, the choir’s main function is to sing in the daily services in King’s College Chapel, but it has long since spread its wings far broader than that, generating worldwide fame through a wealth of recordings and an extensive international tour schedule.

Daniel Hyde has been Musical Director since 2019. His distinguished career as an organist and choral conductor includes roles at Jesus College, Cambridge, at Magdalen College, Oxford, and most recently at Saint Thomas Church in New York. Daniel talks about the long history and significance of the choir, and how he came to be inspired by this timeless musical tradition.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, tours Australia thanks to Musica Viva, from 21 July to 5 August.

For the first time in 30 years, four leading harpsichordists will unite on the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra stage for a rare performance of Bach’s Concerto for 4 harpsichords. One of those four performers is French-American musician Justin Taylor. He is one of the world’s leading young harpsichordists, having released numerous award-winning solo recordings, and is one of the founders of the internationally renowned period ensemble, Le Consort. The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s artistic director Paul Dyer calls him a true master of the harpsichord.

Justin speaks about the intricacies and subtleties of playing the harpsichord, and how the sounds of the original keyboard instruments of different eras inform the performance of the music of the respective composers.

Justin Taylor performs with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra a the City Recital Hall Angel Place from 5-10 July.

A musical theatre actor responsible for some of the most notable performances on our stages, Anthony Warlow began his career with the Australian Opera in 1980. He has since become a household name thanks to his work in The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Annie, My Fair Lady, Jeckyll & Hyde to name only a few, while also performing with Opera Australia for The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, The Pirates of Penzance, and more. He’s performed on Broadway and the West End, and has several albums to his name.

In this extended version of the broadcast edition, Anthony displays his deep understanding of how to create a successful performance, time and again. We hear stories about his journey to the stage, and about some of the roles that have made him one of Australia’s most popular and successful musical theatre performers.

Anthony Warlow plays Billy Flynn, the lawyer who lets you get away with murder, in Chicago, on now at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.

French-German cellist Nicolas Altstaedt is one of the most sought after and versatile musicians today, performing repertoire spanning early music to the contemporary, as a soloist, conductor and artistic director. He’s performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic, to name only a few. His conducting has taken him to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Budapest Festival Orchestra and more. As a chamber musician he’s collaborated with Joshua Bell, Janine Jansen and Pekka Kuusisto, amongst many other, and has recorded 15 albums.

In this conversation Nicolas enthusiastically talks about his craft and shares music from his contemporaries who inspire him most. He articulately describes the variations between the different ensembles with which he has collaborated. His energy and insights shine a fresh light into the works he performs.

Nicolas Altstaedt is in Australia to guest direct the Australian Chamber Orchestra until 30 June.

A  global artist who has enjoyed chart-topping success, international tours, and celebrated collaborations, violinist Vov Dylan enjoys taking audiences to a place where the classical meets the contemporary, coalescing with world music and jazz. 

He’s premiered works by some of this country’s finest composers, including Elena Kats-Chernin, Margaret Brandman and Ann Carr-Boyd. He has two new albums coming soon – Elevation, featuring the works of those composers as well as Stuart Greenaum, Ross Edwards and others, plus La Vida Apasionada, an album of works of Margaret Brandman.

Vov talks about his life as a working musician – from serenading in biker bars through to introducing international audiences to Australian works, plus how a couple of bottles of Bollinger may well have been the deciding factor for a career in music!

A singer songwriter who has proven herself as one of this country’s most hard-working, versatile, and prolific artists, Katie Noonan flourishes in every genre. She performs and composes across classical, jazz and rock music. She’s recorded a massive 28 albums, with a 29th on the way, garnering 28 ARIA nominations including five wins. Having already been part of her indie rock band, George,  producing highly successful albums including Polyserena which went triple platinum, she went on to found her jazz trio, Elixir. In 2021, she founded the Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ), a vocal quartet with a special focus on new Australian compositions.

Katie discusses the full breadth of her remarkable musical journey, and the other artists who have inspired her along the way.

Katie Noonan and the Australian Vocal Ensemble join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for their annual Chorus Oz concert on Sunday 9 June in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. She and fellow AVÉ member, Andrew O’Connor, have composed An Instrument of Peace, a new work which will be performed at this concert alongside Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.