In Conversation

The New Yorker described cellist and composer Peter Gregson as “working at the forefront of the new music scene”. As a cellist, he has performed all over the world, from The Royal Albert Hall to Capitol Studios in Hollywood. He has composed music for award-winning TV shows and movies, including the much loved Bridgerton from Netflix, and The New Pope from HBO. He also crosses into the pop industry, having featured as both cello soloist and conductor for Ed Sheeran on his record-breaking 2017 album, Divide.

In this interview, Peter Gregson discusses his latest work, Everything We Hear Comes First from Silence, written for the Omega Ensemble. We hear about his inspiration from composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass, and his approach to blending acoustic instruments with electronics. He shares insights into his reimagining of the Bach Cello Suites, and how a chance encounter with Alan Rickman led him to compose for film and television.

The Omega Ensemble performs the world premiere of Peter’s new work, Everything We Here Comes First From Silence, as part of their upcoming tour La Musica Notturna from March 24-27.

Bass/baritone Adrian Tamburini has enjoyed a long and varied career in opera, musical theatre, and also as a director and producer. He has won two Green Room Awards, the second for his performance in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, and has also been the winner of Australia’s most prestigious singing award, the Australian Opera Award. His voice features on international recordings, in cinema, and on radio and TV. He’s appeared in a raft of productions for opera companies around the country. On top of that, he’s a music educator and also a champion of new Australian works.

Adrian takes us through the inspirations and challenges he has had throughout his singing career, from boy soprano to the master of the underworld. He shares his recently found passion for music education and provides some insights on what it’s like moving from the world of traditional opera to a large scale commercial musical.

Adrian Tamburini plays Hades in Hadestown, playing now at Sydney’s Theatre Royal until 26 April before heading to Melbourne.

Bobby Fox is best known for originating the role of Frankie Valli in the Australian production of Jersey Boys. He has appeared in many other musical theatre productions, including Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Spamalot, Oklahoma and Sweet Charity, amongst others, and he received a Helpmann nomination for his role in Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins which played at both the Hayes and the Sydney Opera House. He also has a shuffle in his shoes, having been a part of Riverdance as well as a four time World Irish Dance Champion. He has released the album The Fantastic Mr Fox.

Bobby takes us through his childhood in regional Ireland, learning to dance as soon as he could walk, and being part of Riverdance from just 15 years of age. His journey ultimately takes him to Australia where he has lived for over 20 years as a successful musical theatre performer.

Bobby Fox appears in Guys and Dolls, this year’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour thanks to Opera Australia, from 21 March to 20 April. 

One of Australia’s most eclectic, respected and prolific artists, Eddie Perfect has received multiple awards and nominations for the different strands of his work. He won the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work for Shane Warne: The Musical, and received a Tony nomination for Best Original Score for his work as composer/lyricist of Beetlejuice. He’s back on stage to star in Opera Australia’s new production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, and from this May will once again perform his own music as he takes on the title role in the Australian run of Beetlejuice.

In this conversation, Eddie takes a deep dive into the development and creation of a successful Broadway show, charting his initial struggle to get his foot in the door, the long process of writing, workshopping, and re-writing, to coping with the initial out-of-town and Broadway premieres to an initially lacklustre critical response. The show went on to receive eight Tony nominations. He also talks about his formative years as a performer that eventually led to creating Shane Warne: The Musical.

This episode of In Conversation contains additional content to the broadcast edition.

Latvian cellist and conductor Margarita Balanas has played at venues around the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. She’s performed as soloist with the Munich Philharmonic and the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra among many others, and conducted orchestras including the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, and is the founder and music director of the ANONIMI orchestra and charity.

As children, Margarita and her siblings raised money by busking in order to afford the travel and entry fees to be able to play in competitions. Her incredible tenacity and motivation took her to London and the Purcell School, then the Royal Academy of Music, and lead her to becoming assistant conductor to Paavo Järvi. Margarita shares this incredible journey with us, as well as a number of pieces she has performed with her sister, violinist Kristine Balanas, as part of that journey.

A British composer, writer and broadcaster, Stephen Johnson has a long and eclectic career. His book titles include Discover Music of the Classical Era, The Eighth: Mahler and the World in 1910, and How Shostakovich Changed My Mind, not to mention his curation of a book of ghost stories. His compositions include a String Quartet for the Brodsky Quartet, andBehemoth Dances for the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. He was also a long-time broadcaster with the BBC’s classical radio channel, Radio 3, particularly for his acclaimed program Discovering Music. He’s been called “The authoritative British voice of classical music”.

This conversation dips into Stephen’s vast musical knowledge, and he very candidly talks about music’s role in mental health and his own struggles with illness. He also shares some of his experiences at the BBC and the catalysts for some of his writing.

This program was recorded at the 2024 Australian Festival of Chamber Music. The 2025 Festival runs from 25 July to 2 August in Townsville. For more information, and to become a Friend of the Festival which entitles you to priority tickets, visit afcm.com.au

A celebrated pianist, Alexander Boyd is appreciated for his sensitivity and the integrity of his interpretations. He made his concerto debut at the age of just 11 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He’s since performed at London’s Wigmore Hall and St Martins in the Fields, as well as throughout Europe, the US and Australia. He’s also a composer, having written music for three films.

He has a pair of new albums out in March, one of Chopin’s Ballades and other works, the other an album of Fandangos. Alexander talks about the development of these albums and also gives some lovely insights into the life of a professional pianist. 

Soprano, actress and producer Amy Manford has delighted audiences young and old with her gorgeous voice and magnetic stage presence. Audiences will recall her highly acclaimed run as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera in 2022, having already played the role in the West End. She’s performed with Andrea Bocelli and for the British Royal Family. Amy is also quite the arts entrepreneur, having co-founded MM Creative Productions. Their production, Disney in Concert, is back by popular demand, returning to the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs from 12 to 15 March, and then with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall from 21-23 March.

Amy spent her early childhood not as a singer, but as a gymnast, until a knee injury changed her trajectory. Her natural talents took her to the Royal College of Music in London, and she hasn’t looked back since. Amy shares the challenges and opportunities of running a production company, and being part of one of the world’s most famous entertainment brands. She introduces some of her own recordings, including one of her own compositions.

French pianist applauded for his versatility and wide-ranging repertoire, Cédric Tiberghien has an openness to explore innovative concert formats and dynamic chamber music partnerships. He’s recorded over 20 solo albums and over 15 collaborative ones, has played concerts and recitals in all parts of the world, with the Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, the London Philharmonic, the Sydney Symphony, among many others.

He was fascinated by a grand piano when he was 2 years old, and started lessons as soon as he was able. In this conversation, Cédric takes us through his approach to music and performance with joy and excitement, and his musical selections demonstrate the full breadth of his approach to his craft.

Cédric Tiberghien performs The Cage Project with Musica Viva at the Sydney Festival on 23-25 January, before heading to Canberra and Melbourne.

In Conversation begins a year of new programs with a conductor whose passion for music is irrepressible. Australian born Daniel Smith is now based in Italy, and proudly bears the Italian honour of Australian Cultural Ambassador. Following his highly successful debut with The Mariinsky Orchestra, Daniel has guest conducted the Czech Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, amongst many others.

Daniel shares stories of his hard-fought career milestones, from cornering maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti in a Sydney Opera House lift to beg him to take him on as a student, to his breakthrough being the only conductor to be awarded Laureate in four of the most prestigious international conducting competitions in a single year. He speaks with great passion on his plans to share culture with as broad an audience as possible.

Daniel Smith conducts The Barber of Seville for Opera Australia, which plays at the Sydney Opera House until 28 February.