In Conversation

The King's Singers represent the gold standard in a cappella singing, and have performed on the world’s stages from London to New York, and from Sydney to Singapore. They are renowned for unrivalled technique, impeccable vocal blend, as well as a healthy dose of delightful British wit. Bass singer Jonathan Howard is the ensemble's current longest serving member, now in his second decade with the group. In this conversation, Johnny takes us on a deep dive into what makes this remarkable ensemble tick and shares the joys that vocal music has brought him throughout his life.

The King's Singers are touring Australia from 18-23 March with concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.

A musician who has received international recognition for his comprehensive body of work, Benjamin Skepper combines classical aesthetics with contemporary art, science, technology and the avant-garde. His art studio, Contrapuntal, creates multi-artform installations, performances and events. For this year’s Sydney Festival, he’s co-curated a festival within the festival – Temperament, which delves into the music of JS Bach from every possible angle. It features performances by a range of our top ensembles, and Benjamin himself is performing his show Praeludium y Fuga.

In this in-depth interview, Benjamin talks about his work with the Sydney Festival, the origins of his innovative multi-artform performances and compositions, plus his incredible journey through life which includes his first international performance tour at the age of 10, his human rights work in Cambodia, and his experience of the transformative power of music.

Benjamin Skepper performs Praeludium y Fuga at The Neilson on 27 and 28 January.

Stanley Dodds is a violinist and conductor whose career spans three decades. He has been a violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic since 1994, and principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2014. He’s conducted around the world, from our own Melbourne, Tasmanian and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, to the Hamburg, Vancouver and Beijing Symphony Orchestras, amongst many others. He also has a passion for music education, which makes him the ideal choice for his latest appointment as the new chief conductor of the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

Stan talks eloquently about his inspirational musical journey as both a violinist and conductor. He introduces a number of works which will feature in SYO programs throughout 2024, providing great insights into the nature and importance of the music, and the excitement he wants to inspire in our next generation of musicians.

Cathy Milliken's Catalogue of the Sky performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simone Young kindly provided by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Gabriela Ortiz's Téenek, Invenciones de Territorio performed by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel kindly provided by Deutschlandradio.

In Conversation begins a new year with an event synonymous with Sydney in January – the Sydney Festival. Simon Moore is joined by Festival Director Olivia Ansell, who whets our appetite on some of the 130 events across the 24 days of the 2024 Sydney Festival.

Now in the role for three years, she brings over 20 years experience as an artist, key creative, promoter and producer, working across tourism, media and entertainment. Her previous credits include working as Head of Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House and being voted one of Vivid’s top creative catalysts. 

Olivia also shares stories from her journey in the creative arts, which began in a childhood home full of musicians and performers of all kinds.

The Sydney Festival runs until 28 January.

In the final program for 2023, Simon Moore is joined by an Australian arts leader who has made a name for herself internationally. Fiona Allan has been in senior roles, including artistic director, of theatres, venues and events from the Sydney Film Festival and the Australian National Academy of Music, to the Arts Council in England and the Millennium Centre in Wales. Until a few years ago she was in charge of the UK’s busiest single theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome, and it was from there that she returned to her home town of Sydney to become the current CEO of Opera Australia.

Fiona reveals elements of how Opera Australia will continue to evolve and develop into the future, including working with new artistic director Jo Davies, and shares stories from her long career in arts management in both Australia and the UK.

Soprano Julie Lea Goodwin performs across opera, musical theatre, and classical cross-over. She has played Musetta in La Bohème and Maria in West Side Story for Opera Australia. She performed opposite Anthony Warlow in The Phantom of the Opera, and has sung as a soloist with many of Australia’s Symphony Orchestras. With Christmas in the air, she’ll be joining the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Carols at the House for three concerts from 15th to the 17th of December in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.

Julie Lea knew she wanted to be a performer from a very early age, and tells stories of singing to the horses on the family’s property out of Brisbane and enjoying the old Hollywood musicals on video. She charts her carer from her remarkable early break as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, through making her debut with Opera Australia and singing with orchestras and ensembles around the country.

An actor for over 25 years, Jamie Oxenbould has performed at the full spectrum of Sydney theatres, whether it’s the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin or the Ensemble. He’s worked in film and television, and his voice is familiar to us on animations and TV ads. He’s back at the Ensemble Theatre to star in Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall, a new play that he’s co-written with the Ensemble’s artistic director Mark Kilmurry.

Jamie talks about the inspiration for and the creation of this new play, and we get some insights into the secrets and mysteries of creating a successful comedy. We hear about the art of voice acting and Jamie also introduces a diverse selection of music which has inspired him over the years.

Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall plays at the Ensemble from December 1 through to January 14.

This week, In Conversation celebrates the 60th anniversary of a television phenomenon which has captivated audiences of all ages. Doctor Who is loved by millions around the world. Aside from its official television incarnation, it’s seen two feature films, three stage plays, five spin-off series, hundreds of original audio dramas and novels, and countless unofficial fan made magazines, novels, videos plays, and more than a few podcasts.

Katy Manning played the role of Jo Grant in three seasons opposite Jon Pertwee’s Doctor in the early 70s. Australian theatre audiences will be familiar with her time based in Sydney, when she appeared in such plays as Run for your Wife and Educating Rita, as well as her remarkable performance in Me and Jezebel.

Katy shares some wonderful stories not just from her time in Doctor Who, but also her long and varied career in theatre and television. We hear about some of the many people she’s met along the way, including Judy Garland, Barry Crocker and her life-long friend Liza Minelli, as well as the origins of her one woman play Not a Well Woman.

This is an extended version of the original broadcast edition.

Katya Apekisheva has earnt her place as one of Europe’s most renowned pianists. Grammophone Magazine described her as a “profoundly gifted artist”. She’s performed across the world in auspicious venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, and appears on multiple albums. This week, her latest album with fellow pianist Charles Owen is released on the Orchid Classics label, featuring the music of Poulenc, Debussy and Milhaud. 

Katya talks about her upbringing and tuition at the tail end of the Soviet system, her collaborations with Charles and other musicians, plus introduces a diverse selection of works that have shaped her musical inspiration and career development.

This interview was recorded at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville earlier this year. Festival director Jack Liebeck curated a delightful schedule of concerts, talks and other events for his second year as artistic director, bringing artists together from around Australia and all over the world. The next AFCM takes place from 26 July to 4 August 2024.

Miles Mullin-Chivers began playing the cello at the age of just 4, and has been taught by some of this country’s most accomplished musicians. He’s performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, including as guest principal cellist, and with the Opera Australia Orchestra. He’s played with the Canberra International Music Festival, the Four Winds Festival, Musica Viva, Selby and Friends and Live at Yours, and has also appeared as a soloist. He will be one of many Australian musicians from around the world coming together as the Australian World Orchestra, under the baton of their founder and artistic director, Alexander Briger, to perform Mahler’s Symphony no 9, at the Arts Centre in Melbourne on 22 November and at the City Recital Hall Angel Place on 24 November.

Miles tells some light-hearted stories about his career development, from his somewhat unorthodox education to his time as a Sydney Symphony fellow, and shares his choices of music and musicians that have inspired him through that journey.