Cheryl Barker tackles career defining role

For the past couple of months I've been working with Opera Australia and some very big stars of the opera stage. One such star is the delightful Cheryl Barker.

I was thrilled to learn Leta Keens from The Australian was to interview Cheryl as she prepared for her latest role, playing the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier. I was sitting in Imogen's office, which shares a wall with the meeting room, and could hear them both giggling throughout the hour-long chat.

Leta has once again captured Cheryl and this role beautifully with her words. She really is a brilliant writer. Read the article here.

ASQ heralded in Köln, Germany

The girls jetted off on another international trip this month, performing in Köln, Germany. They've returned home with more than just the luggage they left with, having picked up two very complimentary reviews from their performance of Mendelssohn Quartet in E flat Op.12, Brett Dean Epitaphs for String Quintet, with Brett Dean (viola) and Bruckner Viola Quintet in F major:

Sophie Rowell and Anne Horton (violins), Sally Boud (viola) and Rachel, Johnston (cello) had opened the night with an enormously passionate performance of Felix Mendelssohn String Quartet in E flat major (op. 12). The waves of the Romantic period surged in homogenous ebb and flow,and dark colours - and it became apparent very quickly that here at work were masters of their craft (Kölnische Rundschau, 18.9.2010)

Throughout, the string sound was lightly muted, with life and warmth emanating from the inner voice, contributed to in no small part by the noble restraint of the first violinist. The four players dealt in marvellous style with the awkwardly positioned, evasive motifs of the scherzo and finale, i.e. with what we in the Rhineland call Knibbelsarbeit - fiddly work (Kölnische Rundschau, 21.9.2010).

Ben Northey rocks it on ABC's Spicks & Specks

I recall speaking to Ben after he filmed episode 32 for ABC's Spicks & Specks, back in March. They had asked if he wouldn't mind doing a little impromptu conducting session, finishing it off in true 'rock n roll' style... well Ben, seems you do have a little rock running through your veins. You didn't disappoint!

Watch it here:http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/630795