Culture
Live reviews
★★★★½
Review
Opera Australia has found for itself a triumphant ‘new’ La Traviata
This much-loved Verdi classic becomes a deeper psychological journey in the hands of director Sarah Giles.
- by Peter McCallum
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Victorian Opera reaches for the stars with Galileo
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Richard Mills’ Galileo, Nessa Barrett, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and Hannah Gadsby’s Banana Palace.
- by Bridget Davies, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Tony Way, Cameron Woodhead and Andrew Fuhrmann
What the Kransky Sisters would secretly like for Christmas
Our critics take a look at the latest shows around town.
- by John Shand
★★★★½
Review
Everybody was fun Foo Fighting as rock royalty blast into Brisbane
At one point, frontman Dave Grohl asked the crowd, “Do you like rock’n’roll music?” before declaring “I do!” And so did a rapturous Suncorp Stadium.
- by Alex Condon
This ‘musical genius and total freak’ sure knows how to put on a show
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes Caroline Polachek, Zach Bryan, Kraftwerk, Handel’s Messiah, Maria Callas: A Concert in Hologram and more.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Kosa Monteith, Nadia Bailey, Tony Way, Jessica Nicholas and Bridget Davies
Cowboy Barbie dolls, riots and an alien invasion: Welcome to the future of dance
Our critics look over some of the latest shows around town, stretching from Kraftwerk to Guy Sebastian and from a hilarious new farce to the hottest new dance talent.
- by Kate Prendergast, Michael Ruffles, John Shand, Chantal Nguyen, James Jennings and Millie Muroi
Foo Fighters and the unstoppable Dave Grohl dial it up to 11
No rock’n’roll cliche remains unexplored in this explosive stage show.
- by Kate Hennessy
The stuff of legend: Enigmatic musician Jai Paul performs in Melbourne
This wrap of shows includes performances by Jai Paul, 50 Cent, Foo Fighters, and Aura plus Surat-Suratnya at La Mama and Pieces at The Substation.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Angus Livingston, Cameron Woodhead, Andrew Fuhrmann, Will Cox and Jessica Nicholas
Caroline Polachek delivers a stunning night of eclectic showstoppers
Our reviewers take a look at some of the biggest shows around town.
- by Peter McCallum, Chantal Nguyen, James Jennings and Bernard Zuel
This show is built around disturbingly brilliant clowning you won’t soon forget
This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes The Long Pigs, Kinky Boots, Mariedl, Selfies with a Giantess, and Christina Aguilera’s first Australian show since 2007.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Awkward and cringy – Post Malone performs at Melbourne Showgrounds
At Post Malone’s Melbourne gig the music feels like indie pop’s answer to hip-hop – and is topped off by a half-hearted shoey.
- by Mahmood Fazal