Limelight

Independent, in-depth and intelligent, Limelight offers Australia's finest coverage of music, arts and culture. Inside each issue, we invite you to take a deep dive into at least four main features exploring the music, opera, theatre and dance sectors, as well as articles addressing the big issues facing the arts and entertainment industry. Additional interviews, reviews and opinion pieces are included in the Soundings and Coda sections. Plus, discover upcoming events across the country in On Stage, and schedule your at-home listening with On Air & Online, which includes ABC Classic, independent radio and online broadcast information.

Limelight

Contributors

On Stage

In the Limelight

RING MASTER • After directing Wagner's Ring Cycle in Hannover, Barrie Kosky vowed he would never tackle the epic tetralogy again. Then London's Royal Ballet & Opera came calling. Chatting with Clive Paget, the in-demand, erudite, out-spoken director shares his views on Wagner and his various operas, and reveals why he agreed to revisit the Ring.

Sharing Stories • Obsessed with Henry Lawson's short story The Drover's Wife as a child, Leah Purcell has adapted it as a play, novel and film. Then composer George Palmer asked if she would collaborate on an opera. Jane Albert talks to Purcell, Palmer and soprano Nina Korbe about how the opera came about and what to expect.

A DISOBEDIENT WOMAN • Current Patrick White Fellow Sheridan Harbridge is reclaiming female history on Australian stages through her work as a playwright, actor, singer and director, and as Elissa Blake reports, she's not done yet, with a new musical on the way.

Knowing the Score • The University of Sydney recently acquired a collection of first and rare editions of works by Mozart and Beethoven, named after its donor Richard Charteris. Miriam Cosic explains why original manuscripts and early editions are so important in helping musicians understand the composer's intention, and an invaluable tool in deciding how best to perform their works.

Good Grief • Two-time Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles talks to Jansson J. Antmann about her musical Waitress, returning to songwriting after the pandemic and finding meaning in loss, as she prepares to release her deeply personal new album, Good Grief.

INTERVIEW Beyond the Barricade • As Alfie Boe prepares to return to Australia with a concert built around his latest album, Facing Myself, the much-loved tenor talks to Jansson J. Antmann about farewelling Les Misérables, opening up on stage and the art of collaboration.

What's new on disc • This month features new music from Huw Watkins and Bernadette Harvey, old music by Dowland and Zelenka and blockbusters care of Alkan, Bizet and Lise Davidsen.

Izzard's Hamlet • Hot on the heels of this month's Remix Tour Live, Suzy Izzard is bringing her one-woman version of Shakespeare's tragedy to Australia. She talks to Steve Dow about making theatre for the people.

Sacred Medicine • First Nations musician Eric Avery is creating a new work with Melbourne's Flinders Quartet. He tells Steve Dow why he has asked the four string players to use stringybark as part of the performance.

Vagabond by Tim Curry • The three-time Tony nominee's insightful memoir is an inspiration.

Siegfried - The Royal Opera • ½ There's a new lightness and feeling of joy in the third opera in Barrie Kosky's mesmerising Ring Cycle. Catch it at cinemas here.

A Private Life (Vie privée) • ½ Circling its mysteries, this atmospheric film doesn't quite stick its landing, but Jodie Foster is superb.

On Air & Online

ABC Classic concert program - May 2026

Independent radio & streaming - May 2026

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