Arts Wednesday - Eastside Radio

03/10/2025

Ruins أطلال is a play like no other I have seen. The theatrical language is foreign, but somehow familiar. It took only minutes to understand its peculiar dialect and delight in the exotic nature of its delivery, and what incredible rewards it delivered. Congratulations to the ensemble cast and crew for reinventing the very language of theatre. It may be considered experimental for now, but may well become the lingua franca of the future.
Centre until 18 October.
Clockfire Theatre Company

https://eastsidefm.org/review-ruins-أطلال-at-the-seymour/

Wednesday 1 October 2025 Seymour Centre Clockfire Theatre Company Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Having reviewed many contemporary dance performances, Ruins could have been devised by Bangarra Dance or Sydney Dance Company, only this theatrical work has a script and dialogue. Equally surpris...

05/09/2025

The AWO brings together Aussie musicians who play in the leading orchestras of the world. In this concert they play not 1 but 2 Mahler Symphonies at the Sydney Opera House.

https://eastsidefm.org/review-australian-world-orchestra-mahlerfest/

Thursday 4 September 2025 Sydney Opera House The Australian World Orchestra Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) More words have been written about Gustav Mahler’s 4th and 5th Symphonies than the number of notes in both works combined. Given that they are scored for around 100 musicians and they...

04/09/2025

Lewis Major only obliquely presents us with meanings and narratives. His style is not about that, but more about creating structures, illusions and emotions. But his ability to combine a beautiful style of dance with electrifying music and lighting is really where his strength lies.
Until 6 September as part of The Sydney Fringe .
Review of Triptych.
https://eastsidefm.org/review-triptych/

02/09/2025

There is something especially spiritual about spending time with Idris Murphy’s paintings, we can feel the connections without necessarily needing to know more. The exhibition and sale is on now until the 21 September at King Street Gallery on William.

https://eastsidefm.org/review-idris-murphy-vibrations-of-the-primal/

King Street Gallery on William Exhibition and sale 26 August – 20 September 2025 Review by Anthony Frater (Arts Wednesday) It always a long awaited treat when a new collection of paintings from Idris Murphy come to market. Idris Murphy was born in Sydney in 1949 and graduated from Sydney’s Natio...

30/08/2025

80 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Face of Jizo could not be more relevant or timely. It probes the importance of telling and re-telling histories wracked with difficult and troubling behaviours and memories. On at the Seymour Centre until 6 September.

https://eastsidefm.org/review-the-face-of-jizo/

Friday 29 August 2025 Seymour Centre Omusubi Productions Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Jizo (地蔵/womb of the earth): stone statues that have a spiritual power for protection and longevity. 80 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Face of Jizo could not be more relevant or time...

25/08/2025

Cézanne to Giacometti, Highlights from the Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie is a jolly good reason to visit National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. On now until 21 September it’s a unique opportunity to see how Modern Art came into being, who influenced who and how that influence reached our own shores from Europe.

https://eastsidefm.org/review-cezanne-to-giacometti-highlights-from-museum-berggruen/

Art Gallery of Australia 31 May – 21 September 2025 Review by Anthony Frater (Arts Wednesday) It’s always good to have a reason to visit Canberra and Cézanne to Giocometi, Highlights from the Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie, is a jolly good reason. On now at the National Gallery of Aust...

24/08/2025

When I saw the program for the latest Australian Chamber Orchestra Up Close recital at The Neilson, I was curious as to the connection between Valentin Silvestrov and Dmitri Shostakovich. Yes they were both Soviet era composers (although 30 years apart), one was Ukrainian, the other Russian. But the link, of course was our featured soloist for the night, Russian-born pianist Konstantin Shamray.

https://eastsidefm.org/review-aco-up-close-shostakovich-silvestrov/

Saturday 23 August 2025 ACO on the Pier – The Neilson Walsh Bay Arts Precinct Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) When I saw the program for the latest ACO Up Close recital at The Neilson, I was curious as to the connection between Valentin Silvestrov and Dmitri Shostakovich. Yes they were both...

20/08/2025

It’s easy to see why the Takács Quartet is considered one of the pre-eminent string quartets on the planet and a regular guest of Music Viva Australia. An appreciative crowd gathered on a wet winter night at the City Re**al Hall to witness precision playing, impeccable balance and exuberant musicianship in a program from masters of the genre plus a brand new Australian commission.

https://eastsidefm.org/review-the-takacs-quartet/

Monday 18 August 2025 City Recital Hall Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Four strings. One mind. It’s easy to see why the Takács Quartet is considered one of the pre-eminent string quartets on the planet and a regular guest of Music Viva Australia. An appreciative crowd gathered on a wet wi...

18/08/2025

What White Bay Power Station lacks in the elite acoustic of the City Recital Hall or the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, it more than makes up for with its dramatic pre-WWI industrial infrastructure and architecture. Well that was our venue for Lost Birds, a concert of contemporary choral music by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Saturday 16 August 2025 Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Ensemble White Bay Power Station Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) What White Bay Power Station lacks in the elite acoustic of the City Recital Hall or the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, it more than makes up for with its dramatic....

18/08/2025

Having spent the early years of my career working as a foley artist and sound effects editor, when I heard about a contemporary dance work based on the art of foley, I was intrigued. Rebecca Jensen’s Slip is one of four works featured in Sydney Dance Company’s 4th INDance initiative recognising upcoming choreographers and giving them greater exposure to a wider audience.

Friday 15 August 2025 Rebecca Jensen and Sydney Dance Company. The Neilson, Walsh Bay Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) Having spent the early years of my career working as a foley artist and sound effects editor, when I heard about a contemporary dance work based on the art of foley, I was int...

02/08/2025

A concert of lasts that came with surprises, emotion and musicality. Childhood memories were revisited, fashions of the fin de siècle were explored, and political intrigue was circumvented once again. This concert had it all.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra Sydney Opera House

Sydney Symphony Orchestra Friday 1 August, 2025 Sydney Opera House Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) I’ve often thought for an orchestral musician, the absolute honour of opening a symphony concert with an exposed solo must be so exhilarating and at the same time so terrifying. The audiences....

01/07/2025

After the sudden cancellation due to injury of scheduled guest director and violinist, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the Australian Chamber Orchestra scrambled to come up with an alternative program for the tour branded ACO Unleashed.

Australian Chamber Orchestra Saturday 28 June, 2025 City Recital Hall Review by Paul Neeson (Arts Wednesday) After the sudden cancellation due to injury of scheduled guest director and violinist, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the ACO scrambled to come up with an alternative program for the tour branded A...