The Music Show

Stephen Sondheim was the high priest of the modern musical, and almost five years on from his death, Daniel Okrent’s new biography Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn't Easy reveals probably more than the intensely private Sondheim would have liked. From the anger of Sweeney Todd, the struggle of the artist in Sunday in the Park with George, and the loneliness of Passion, his music reveals him even more than Daniel’s many interviews with his contemporaries ever could. 
Into the Woods, Sondheim’s fairytale-bending masterpiece, is being staged by Opera Queensland, and director Patrick Nolan joins Andy to talk about why Sondheim is one of the only music theatre composers regularly programmed by opera companies. 
Opera Queensland's Into the Woods is staged at QPAC 11-21 November.
Music heard in the show:
Title: Comedy TonightArtist: Zero MostelComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Original Broadway Cast)Label: Capitol Records
Title: Prologue; Into the WoodsArtist: Tom Aldredge and Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Into The Woods (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Victor
Title: Opening DoorsArtist: Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Merrily We Roll Along (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Red Seal
Title: Being AliveArtist: Larry KentComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Company (Original Broadway Cast)Label: Columbia Masterworks
Title: Someone in a TreeArtist: Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Pacific Overtures (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Red Seal
Title: EpiphanyArtist: Len CariouComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Sweeney Todd (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA
Title: Finishing the HatArtist: Mandy PatinkinComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Sunday in the Park With George (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Red Seal
Title: Ever After, Act II Prologue, I Guess This Is Goodbye, Any Moment, FinaleArtist: Tom Aldredge and Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Into The Woods (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Victor
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Jagera and Turrbal, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Technical production by Simon Branthwaite

Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, his Pastoral, is one of the best known pieces in the repertoire. Whether your first encounter was a full orchestral performance, a crackling vinyl, or the soundtrack to prancing unicorns in Fantasia, it probably struck you. A more subtly radical piece than its sister-symphony, the bombastic 5th, it’s being performed across the country by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and director and violinist Richard Tognetti joins us to pull it apart.
It’s the late Australian soprano Dame Joan Sutherland’s 100th anniversary, and she wasn’t called La Stupenda for nothing. She had one of the most perfect vocal techniques in the business, and her fame as an opera singer was rivalled only by Maria Callas. From The Music Show archives, soprano and singing teacher Jane Edwards explains how she did it.
The Australian Chamber Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Pastoral 12-25 November in Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. 
Music heard in the show:
Title: Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, ‘Pastoral’Artist: Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard TognettiComposer: Beethoven, LudwigAlbum: BeethovenLabel: ABC Classics
Title: Sempre Libera from La TraviataComposer: VerdiPerformer: Joan Sutherland and Luciano PavarottiAlbum: Verdi: La Traviata 1970 Live at the Met conducted by Richard BonyngeLabel: BLV 
Title: Caro Nome from RigolettoComposer: VerdiPerformer: Joan Sutherland, the Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Richard BonyngeAlbum: Verdi's RigolettoLabel: Decca 
Title: Ah! non giunge from La SonnambulaComp: Bellini, VincenzoPerformer: Joan Sutherland, Orchestra and Chorus of The Maggio Musicale/BonyngeAlbum: Bellini La Sonnambula: HighlightsLabel: Decca 
Title: In Questa Reggia from TurandotComposer: Puccini, GiacomoArtist: Joan Sutherland with Luciano Pavarotti as Calaf. John Alldis Choir and the London Philharmonic Orchestra/MehtaAlbum: Puccini TurandotLabel: Decca
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Jagera and Turrbal, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Technical production by Simon Branthwaite

To celebrate AusMusic Month, The Music Show brings you The Dot Strong Sessions. Named for the ABC's formidable tea lady (and the outdoor terrace that bears her name at ABC Ultimo in Sydney), we'll bring you sessions from great Australian artists throughout November.
Katie Noonan was the first to set her keyboard out under the jasmine vines, performing tracks from her 30th studio album, Alone But All One.
And live in the Melbourne music studio, Lisa Miller celebrates the 30th anniversary of Quiet Girl With A Credit Card, which spent decades out of print and is finally available once again.
Katie Noonan is currently on tour - the full set of dates can be found here
Lisa Miller is playing two shows in Victoria on the 6th and 8th of November. 
Music heard in this program:
Title: This Isn't What I Signed Up ForArtist: Katie NoonanComposer: Katie NoonanAlbum: Alone But All OneLabel: Independent release
Title: Alone But All One (live)Artist: Katie NoonanComposer: Katie NoonanPerformed live on The Dot Strong Terrace from the album Alone But All One
Title: In Your Shoes (live)Artist: Katie NoonanComposer: Katie NoonanPerformed live on The Dot Strong Terrace from the album Alone But All One
Title: When The Heart Falls Apart (live)Artist: Katie NoonanComposer: Katie NoonanPerformed live on The Dot Strong Terrace from the album Alone But All One
Title: Guitar Boat (live)Artist: Lisa MillerComposer: Lisa MillerPerformed live in The Music Show studio from the album Quiet Girl With A Credit Card
Title: Big Small TownArtist: Lisa MillerComposer: Lisa MillerPerformed live in The Music Show studio from the album Quiet Girl With A Credit Card
Title: Merrily Kissed The QuakerArtist: PlanxtyComposer: Andy Irvine, Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Liam O'FlynnAlbum: PlanxtyLabel: Polydor
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung  Country
Technical production by Isobella Tropiano, Brendan O'Neill, and Emrys Cronin

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised this program contains the names and voices of people who have died.
Fanny Lumsden’s new album is a rollicking country record with her voice - both as a singer and songwriter - right at the centre of it. She’s brought her guitar and her bassist Dan Freeman into the studio to give us a live rendition of some tracks from the album.
Assyrian-Australian vocalist Lillian Albazi and double bassist Oscar Neyland have come together to extend their original collaborations into a lush new record called Bright Phantoms, bringing together works by Colin Stetson, Nick Cave, ANOHNI, Björk and Adrianne Lenker. They perform live in The Music Show studio. 
Plus another opportunity to listen to the late Yorta Yorta singer Jimmy Little on The Music Show back in 1999, around the release of his seminal Australian songbook album Messenger.
Music heard in the show:
Title: (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting ForArtist: Jimmy LittleComposer: Cave, NickAlbum: MessengerLabel: Festival
Title: TraditionsArtist: Fanny LumsdenComposer: Lumsden, FannyPerformed live in The Music Show studio from the album Traditions
Title: Difficult WomanArtist: Fanny LumsdenComposer: Lumsden, FannyPerformed live in The Music Show studio from the album Traditions
Title: Darker With the DayArtist: Lillian Albazi, Oscar Neyland, James Sherlock, Niran Dasika, Callum MintzisComposer: Cave, NickPerformed live in The Music Show studio from the album Bright Phantoms
Title: Who the Waves Are Roaring ForArtist: Lillian Albazi, Oscar Neyland, James Sherlock, Niran Dasika, Callum MintzisComposer: Stetson, ColinPerformed live in The Music Show studio from the album Bright Phantoms
Title: Down BelowArtist: Jimmy LittleComposer: Rumour, Dan ; Elliott, Jim; Perkins, TexAlbum: MessengerLabel: Festival
Title: Into TemptationArtist: Jimmy LittleComposer: Finn, NeilAlbum: MessengerLabel: Festival
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Technical production by Isabella Tropiano, Emrys Cronin, and Brendan O’Neill

Composer and pianist Elena Kats-Chernin and pianist and ABC Classic presenter Tamara-Anna Cislowska share stories from a friendship and collaboration that's lasted decades, including how Tamara-Anna convinced Elena to perform with her, by sharing a single piano. Elena's concerto, Ancient Letters, was recorded by Tamara with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and that album is nominated for an ARIA Award. 
The collaboration between experimental saxophonist Colin Stetson and piper Brìghde Chaimbeul is comparatively recent, but looks set to continue for a long time. Colin talks to Andy about hearing Brighde's music for the first time and why he’s so interested in capturing the sort of sounds from his instrument that most sax players work very hard to remove from a recording.
Join us at Fillmore’s in Kiama on Thursday 29th October for a conversation with Sandy Evans and Andrea Keller before their Resonance performance with Michelle Nicolle and Jenny Barnes.
Elena and Tamara-Anna are performing in Maitland on Sunday Oct 25.
Music heard in this program:
Title: Dirt DanceArtist: Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulComposer: Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulAlbum: All the light in the world Label: Envision Records
Title: Ancient Letters, i. Tiger CubArtist: Tamara-Anna Cislowska & Tasmanian Symphony OrchestraComposer: Elena Kats-CherninAlbum: Elena Kats-Chernin: Ancient LettersLabel: ABC Classics
Title: All the light in the world Artist: Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulComposer: Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulAlbum: All the light in the world Label: Envision Records
Title: Sorrow: II - Lento E Largo — TranquillissimoArtist: Colin StetsonComposer: Henryk Górecki & Colin StetsonAlbum: Sorrow (A Reimagining Of Gorecki's 3rd Symphony)Label: 52Hz
Title: Even though the frost is harsh Artist: Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulComposer: Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulAlbum: All the light in the world Label: Envision Records
Title: Andrea’s Special DaysArtist: Andrea Keller & Sandy EvansComposer: Sandy EvansAlbum: ResonanceLabel: Independent release
The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Gumbaynggirr Country
Technical production by Timothy Jenkins