Hard pressed to find much freshness
Performing to a near-packed house, the MSO and its choir presented a middle-of-the-road version of Handel's oratorio.
Stage
Meredith Music Festival 2016 review: Peaches goes over the top
Making her entrance wearing a giant vulva on her head, Peaches rocked the crowd as she did the foundations of gender norms and expectations at Meredith Music Festival.
Coldplay review: Behold! The best stadium performers of our generation
Stadium gigs are a fraught pursuit for musicians... luckily Coldplay are this generation's best stadium performers.
Theatre
Screwtape Letters is a darkly comic look at temptation
This darkly comic satire explores religious ideas through a devil's ideas about tempting a human being.
Young voices in Us
A theatre company's debut production deals with aspects of modern relationships using drama, movement, music and multimedia.
The Encounter pioneers a new kind of high-tech theatre
Immersive technology is allowing us to not just consume art but to become part of it while allowing artists to tell their stories in magical new ways.
Dance
Future gleams from darkness
PPY16 – Revealed
Ballet world holds its breath as injured superstar returns
American ballet superstar David Hallberg sits gently rotating his left ankle. He has, say ballet experts, perfect feet with "dolphin arches".
Principal dancers bring the magic of Coppelia
The Australian Ballet delivered some thrilling displays of dance, presented not in an exhibitionist way but with a kind of modesty that fits the folksy theme of the ballet.
Musicals
Intimate two-hander with a chronological twist
Jason Robert Brown's chamber musical is an intimate two-hander with a chronological twist.
Action!: Music, dance, comedy at the Q
From a new musical about Australia's first female prime minister to a three-person adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days, there's plenty on offer in next year's season at the Q.
Adaptation of cult parody Reefer Madness leaves audience on a high
The 1930s anti-drug propaganda film became a cult classic for all the wrong reasons. It translates well to the stage.
Opera
Seraphic beauty would make choirs of angels sing with joy
It is difficult to know what to commend most strongly.
Final instalment of Wagner's Ring ends in blaze of glory
It was hard to imagine things could step up any further but this last and longest of the Ring operas was also the most majestic.
Stefan Vinke astounds in third Wagner instalment
That anyone can sing Siegfried, the title role in Wagner's third Ring opera, is surprising, so challenging is the role. That anyone can sing it like Stefan Vinke is astounding.
Comedy
Amy Schumer cancels tour
Comedian Amy Schumer has cancelled her Australian stand-up tour just five days before she was due to perform in Perth.
Comedian, idiot, hoof prancer
Sam Simmons and his fight against beige is our hottest comedy export.
Stand-up comedy career adds up
Dilruk Jayasinha left the heady heights of accountancy for sweaty live comedy.