In Conversation

Internationally acclaimed violist Lawrence Power joins In Conversation while in Sydney to guest direct the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Isles of Light program, a musical journey through the British Isles that traces a line from Renaissance composers such as Tallis through to contemporary voices including Jonny Greenwood and Kate Bush. Lawrence reflects on the distinctive character of British music, the influence of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and his passion for presenting classical music in fresh and imaginative ways. He also discusses the premiere of a new work by fellow violist and composer Garth Knox, and why curiosity and collaboration remain at the heart of his musical life.Lawrence shares the remarkable story of how he came to the viola by chance after missing out on a violin at school, and why the instrument’s unique voice continues to fascinate him. He recalls his formative years at London’s Junior Guildhall, the musical discoveries that shaped him, and the experiences that led him away from a potential orchestral career and towards chamber music, solo performance, and the commissioning of new works through his ambitious Viola Commissioning Circle. It aims to create ten new viola concertos before 2030, helping to expand the instrument’s repertoire and bring new voices to audiences around the world. Throughout, Lawrence reveals himself as a musician dedicated to exploration, connection and the boundless possibilities of music.Lawrence Power guest directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra for Isles of Light until June 21.

Widely regarded as one of the world's finest horn players, Stefan Dohr has been Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1993. In this conversation, Stefan reflects on the remarkable journey that took him from a musical childhood in Essen – where he initially played the viola alongside his brothers – to one of the most coveted positions in the orchestral world. He shares memories of discovering the horn through a Christmas concert, landing his first professional orchestral job at just nineteen, and navigating the pressures of auditions, competitions and life in Germany's demanding opera houses. He offers a glimpse into the unique democratic structure of the Berlin Philharmonic, where all the musicians vote on everything from new members to the appointment of their chief conductor.Stefan also discusses the changing standards of orchestral playing, the challenges of maintaining world-class technique on one of the most demanding brass instruments, and his passion for expanding the horn repertoire through collaborations with leading contemporary composers. He recalls working with conductors including Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle and Günter Wand, reflects on his experiences with contemporary music ensembles such as Ensemble Modern, and explains why the horn remains, in his view, the "soul of the orchestra." This interview was recorded at the 2025 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Stefan returns to the festival in 2026, which takes place in Cairns from 24 July to 1 August.

Highly accomplished Australian violinist Dale Barltrop has recently concluded a 10 year tenure as Concertmaster with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, having previously held that position with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He’s also appeared as Concertmaster with the Australian World Orchestra, and guest directed the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Camerata. Since 2016, he’s been first violin of the Australian String Quartet. Dale reflects on a remarkable musical journey that has taken him from Queensland state school music programs and youth orchestras to leading major orchestras in Australia and North America, before ultimately finding a new artistic home with the Australian String Quartet. He discusses the formative influence of inspirational teachers and mentors, the experience of moving alone to the United States as a teenager, and the unexpected path that led him to become concertmaster of both the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Along the way, he shares memories of childhood obsessions with Vivaldi and Rossini, the collaborative thrill of orchestral leadership, and the realities of balancing two highly sought after roles before deciding to devote himself fully to the Australian String Quartet.This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Australian Festival of Chamber Music. The 2026 festival is in Cairns and runs from July 24 to August 1.

A comedian and actor who has made audiences around the world laugh for 40 years, Suzy Eddie Izzard, known professionally as Eddie Izzard, began her comedy career in famous London venues including the Comedy Store and the Ambassador Theatre, has appeared in plays on the West End and Broadway (including a Tony nomination for her performance in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg), and appeared in many television shows such as The Riches and The Day of the Triffids, and films, including Ocean’s 12 and 13. She’s back in Australia for her latest stand up show – The Remix Tour – and is then presenting her one person version of Hamlet.Suzy reflects on the challenges of sustaining a visceral, emotionally immediate interpretation of Shakespeare alone on stage, and how her background in stand-up and street performance has equipped her for it. She candidly reflects on key milestones of her career, her early rejections, and how her success in stand-up sidetracked her original ambitions to be an actor. We hear about her Tony nomination, her foray into politics and her journey to coming out as trans. All the stories are told with her trademark wit and humour.Suzy Eddie Izzard performs Hamlet at the Playhouse of the Sydney Opera House June 9-21, the Brisbane Powerhouse June 24-27, Arts Centre Melbourne Fairfax Studio from June 30 to July 12, the Perth Heath Ledger Theatre July 27-28 and the Canberra Theatre Centre from July 31 to August 2. She also performs Hamlet in Auckland and Wellington.

One of Australia’s pre-eminent actresses, Pamela Rabe has graced our stages and screens for over four decades. Her list of credits is vast, having appeared in seminal plays, from Private Lives and The Glass Menagerie, to God of Carnage and August: Osage County. She’s also no stranger to the screen, most notably for her portrayal of Joan Fergusson in Wentworth. She’s received countless nominations for Green Room, Helpmann, and AACTA awards, scoring wins for many including her roles in The Well, The Wizard of Oz, and the aforementioned Wentworth. Pamela traces her remarkable journey from a childhood in Canada to a distinguished career in Australia across stage and screen. She reflects on her early love of radio and storytelling, the formative experiences that led her into acting, and the unexpected path that brought her to Australia, where appearing different became an asset rather than a limitation. She gives thoughtful reflections on the nature of performance, as well as her experience stepping into the iconic role of Joan Ferguson in Wentworth. In the 2023 Queen’s Birthday Honours, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts as a performer and director. Pamela Rabe stars in a gripping new theatrical adaptation of Olga Tokarczuk’s cult novel Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead for Belvoir Street Theatre until May 10, followed by the leading role of Sister Aloysius in John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt for the Sydney Theatre Company from June 30.

A composer who has been capturing our imaginations for over 40 years, Alan Menken is best known for his stage and screen compositions for a slew of Walt Disney films and subsequent stage musicals. He was one of the creative powerhouses behind what has become known as the Disney Renaissance, composing for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin amongst many other titles. And that was all in addition to his non-Disney shows, which include the classic Little Shop of Horrors and the stage version Sister Act. He’s received an extraordinary number of awards – 8 Academy Awards, a Tony, 11 Grammies, 7 Golden Globes and a Daytime Emmy. He’s collaborated with some of the most well-known lyricists in musicals – including Howard Ashman, Stephen Schwartz, Tim Rice, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. In this conversation, Alan traces his journey from a musically curious child more interested in improvising than practising, to one of the most decorated composers in entertainment history. He offers candid insights into his collaborations with lyricists such as Howard Ashman, the creative alchemy behind iconic works like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, and the constant process of rewriting, refining, and often discarding songs in pursuit of the finished product. Along the way, he speaks with honesty and humour about resilience, creative instinct, and the importance of not becoming too precious about your own work.A Whole New World of Alan Menken, comes to Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Wednesday May 6, and the Sydney Event Centre on Friday May 8.

A conductor who has been making a name for himself in both Australia and Europe, Sam Weller has conducted top tier orchestras including the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Orchestra of the 18th Century and the Dutch Radio Philharmonic, as well as our own Adelaide, Tasmanian, West Australian and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. In a wide-ranging conversation that moves from bold contemporary programming to the realities of building an international career, Sam works between Sydney and Amsterdam, and continues to develop Ensemble Apex, the group he founded as a student. Their upcoming program Behind Me is the Dark reflects his fascination with contrast, texture, and the meeting point of sound and visual design – an approach that speaks to his broader aim of making concerts feel immediate, immersive, and alive for audiences today. Sam also reflects on his musical beginnings, from playing saxophone at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts to an early, eye-opening experience conducting his school orchestra at the Sydney Opera House as a teenager. He speaks candidly about the steep learning curve of conducting, the influence of mentors and collaborators, and the ever-expanding possibilities of orchestral sound. Thoughtful and honest, Sam offers insight into both the craft of conducting and the mindset required to navigate a fast-moving, global musical life.Sam Weller conducts Ensemble Apex for Behind Me is the Dark at ACO on the Pier on 1-2 April.

An Australian soprano admired by international critics for her “glossy, commanding sound” and “magnificent dramatic power”, Lauren Fagan is one of the most impressive and versatile sopranos on today’s stages. She’s performed roles with the Canadian Opera Company, Scottish Opera, the Glyndebourne Festival, Opernhaus Zürich, and Opéra de Paris, and many others, for roles ranging the full spectrum from Gutrune in Götterdämmerung to Violetta in La Traviata, and she’s equally at home on the concert stage too. In this conversation, Lauren also looks back on an unconventional path into opera, growing up in a sporty Sydney family with little classical music in the house before discovering singing through school musicals and competitions. After studying business and working in IT sales, she took a leap of faith and moved to London to pursue singing seriously – a decision that led her to train at the Guildhall School of Music, the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and an international career across Europe and beyond. Now based in Vienna, she reflects on the realities of life as an opera singer, the importance of mentors and language skills, and the balance between artistic ambition, personal life, and the demanding global nature of the profession.Lauren Fagan performs the role of Tatiana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin with Opera Australia until 28 March.

Recognised as one of the most dynamic and internationally acclaimed conductors of his generation, Andrea Battistoni has conducted in many of the world’s leading opera houses, including Covent Garden and Deutsche Oper Berlin. He’s currently music director with Teatro Regio di Torino, chief conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and has just commenced another role – as Music Director of Opera Australia.In this wide-ranging conversation, Andrea reflects on this appointment and the artistic vision he hopes to bring to a company he feels a great connection with, as well as a deep affection for the Australian way of working. While Italian opera remains central to his musical DNA, he speaks candidly about his desire to broaden his repertoire in Australia, exploring German, Slavic and contemporary works. He also offers fascinating insights into the role of a music director, from shaping orchestral sound and casting decisions to supporting singers in the unpredictable reality of live performance.Andrea traces his own journey from a childhood in Verona inspired by summer nights at the arena and a fiercely determined mother who insisted on his musical training, to becoming the youngest conductor ever to appear at La Scala. He speaks openly about the challenges of authority, leadership and learning to manage the people as much as the music, as well as the instinct that’s needed on the podium. Alongside his conducting career, composition is playing an increasingly important role in his life, with a new opera and major works premiering in Europe later this year. With lovely honesty and humour, he reflects on family life on the road, his enduring love of Puccini, and even gently compares coffee in Australia to Italy.Andrea Battistoni conducts Turandot and Madame Butterfly for Opera Australia until March 14.

An actor, writer, director and artistic director who is now a major force in Sydney’s theatrical scene, Mitchell Butel has come a long way from bursting onto the stage for his Sydney Theare Company debut in Six Degrees of Separation 35 years ago. Now the STC’s artistic director, he is presenting his first full season, coming to the role after a five-year stint as artistic director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia.As an actor, he’s received Helpmann awards for his turns in Avenue Q, The Mikado, Mr Burns and The Venetian Twins. He returns to the stage to star in The Normal Heart, a role he has already performed in Adelaide. Mitchell discusses how this play about the AIDS crisis in New York from the mid-80s still has resonance today, and goes on to reveal some other highlights of the 2026 season which is shaped by themes of difference, dialogue, and social change, balancing drama with humour and emotional storytelling. We hear about his unconventional path into theatre, from growing up in Maroubra and studying arts/law to then embracing a professional acting career. He speaks of the responsibilities of leading a major arts organisation, including nurturing artists, selecting productions, and balancing creative ambition with financial sustainability, including the development of new Australian works such as upcoming productions of new musicals My Brilliant Career and Whispering Jack. Throughout, Mitchell conveys both the challenges and deep rewards of shaping the future of Australian theatre while maintaining his enduring passion for performance. Mitchell Butel stars in The Normal Heart at the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House until March 14.

Principal trumpet of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Elton, speaks about his career at the very top of the orchestral world and his ongoing commitment to new music. He discusses his collaboration with Australian composer Lachlan Skipworth, including the upcoming premiere of a new double concerto for trumpet and clarinet with the Omega Ensemble, and reflects on what it means to help shape a work from its earliest stages. He also shares insights into the art of orchestral playing, balancing virtuosity with blending one’s sound with the other players.David traces his musical journey from early violin lessons and choral singing to discovering the trumpet, studying in Australia and the United States, and holding principal positions with major orchestras in Australia and overseas, including a remarkable period serving simultaneously as principal trumpet of both the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. Along the way, he reflects on auditions, orchestral culture, teaching the next generation of musicians, and the lifelong process of refining sound, technique, and musical identity. It is a thoughtful and generous portrait of a musician who combines technical brilliance with curiosity, humility, and a deep love of music.David Elton performs with the Omega Ensemble which includes the premiere of A Turning Sky, a new concerto for trumpet and clarinet by Lachlan Skipworth, at the City Recital Hall in Sydney on February 12, at the Newcastle City Hall on February 13, and at the Melbourne Recital Centre on February 18.

Award-winning actress, singer, and dancer Caroline O’Connor has spent over four decades performing in Australia as well as in the West End and on Broadway. She came to world attention thanks to her role in Baz Luhrmann’s film Moulin Rouge! in 2001, but she’d already been on stage for the 20 years prior to that in a slew of theatre productions. From Helpmann-winning turns as Judy Garland and Edith Piaf, to Chicago, Funny Girl, Anything Goes, Gypsy, and many others, Caroline has musical theatre in her DNA. On top of that, she has impeccable Stephen Sondheim credentials – not only did she perform at his special 80th birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall, but after seeing her in Sweeny Todd, the great composer and lyricist declared her to be the best Mrs Lovatt he’d ever seen. This all makes her the ideal choice to be headlining Sondheim’s Putting it Together, playing now at the Foundry Theatre until February 15.In this conversation, Caroline reflects on her extraordinary journey in musical theatre, from her early training as a dancer to becoming one of the most respected performers of her generation. From chorus girl to leading lady, she speaks about the resilience required to navigate auditions, setbacks, and on making pivotal career decisions. She recounts her move to London, and the moments of chance and courage that led to major breakthroughs.