Reviews

In the intimate space of Brisbane Powerhouse, Véronique Serret performed her entire ARIA-nominated solo album, Migrating Bird, to an enthralled audience. She lovingly described each track on the classical-contemporary album as being part of ‘side A and side B’ – or thematically as ‘earth’ and ‘water’ – in a way that songs are perhaps not curated any more. I enjoyed Véronique’s introductions and the insight into her creative process.

Of Shakespeare's many plays, Macbeth is one of the best known and here there is a marked change in the understanding of the many events that happened in the play. Basically, the change is to make the female members of the story the centre of attention instead of just being fringe dwellers. The sequence of events  has not really changed - the killing of Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macduff with her family - but the reasoning and causes of these happenings is moved to Lady Macbeth and her female friends.

Short and sweet, easy to understand, funny, with a woman who thrives in a battle of affection with her boss.

It’s not often you can say that about an opera, but that is exactly what Maid Made Boss, sung in Italian with English sub-titles, delivered for Pinchgut in its latest production.

The miniature opera company chose a piece first performed in Naples in 1733 for two performances and recorded it for good measure for a future broadcast by ABC Classic FM.

“I got your gift. Might be the most beautiful gift I ever got.” 

The gift was a sky-blue Olivetti Studio 44 typewriter from Kath, the mother of Trent Dalton’s mate Greg. He told Greg he’d write something special on that typewriter. “Something filled with love and depth and truth and frankness”. He did! He wrote down the words of “random strangers” who “kindly, gently, wildly, courageously, beautifully” told him their love stories.