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Arts

March

Daddy Warbucks (Anthony Warlow) and Annie (Lucille Le Meledo) in rehearsal for John Frost’s 2025 production.

From Annie to Zimmer: the must-see shows to catch in April

Take a break from the hard-knock life with our monthly selection of the best live entertainment around the country.

The Australian Ballet’s new executive director, Claire Spencer, alongside artistic director David Hallberg, whose contract has just been extended another five years.

Australian Ballet appointments a show of faith

The artistic director’s contract extension comes as the major performing arts company also gets a new executive director, after being without one for almost a year.

February

Rachel Griffiths plays a brothel madam in a new Nine series.

‘I made smart decisions, I didn’t want to be poor’: Rachel Griffiths

The actor did her time in Hollywood and now calls her own shots, including producing a new series that looks at brothel life in a uniquely lighthearted way.

Green Day: Tre Cool, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt are punk culture talismans - with a sideline in Seinfeld-friendly ballads.

Seven shows you must see in March

From a Michael Jackson musical to an anniversary tour of Green Day’s breakthrough album, there are plenty of performances to get you off the couch.

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra chair, Edgar Myer

‘He was Switzerland’: Edgar Myer to chair MSO as court battle looms

The anthropologist and lawyer turned fund manager and philanthropist takes the orchestra’s helm ahead of a court date with pianist Jayson Gillham.

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January

Nigel Bennett at the Barbican, London.

This star British gardener has big plans for Melbourne

Horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett is about to embark on his first project outside Britain – the Laak Boorndap garden in the new Melbourne Arts Precinct.

Robbie Williams calls ABC ‘twits’ after movie promotion criticism

The English pop star held a surprise performance in Melbourne, where he lashed the public broadcaster for criticising him for promoting his new biopic.

December 2024

New Year’s Eve fireworks over Sydney Harbour at the beginning of 2024.

Got $10k? Here are some exclusive NYE locations still available

Hotel rooms and restaurants with a view of Sydney Harbour are extremely limited this year, but there are some spots still available.

November 2024

“Dancing Pumpkin” by Yayoi Kusama was unveiled on Saturday in the National Gallery of Victoria’s front forecourt.

Polka-dotted pumpkin could be NGV’s most expensive piece of art

The Smorgon family operates Australia’s biggest glasshouse, so their financing of the five-metre sculpture by 95-year-old Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, worth over $10 million, makes sense.

October 2024

Artistic director Anne-Louise Sarks (left) and actor/writer Sheridan Harbridge teamed up to write and direct the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of My Brilliant Career.

Diary alert: Shows to catch in November

My Brilliant Career becomes a musical, a guest guitarist turns the ACO into house-music hedonists, and a pioneer of abstract art looks back.

Left: Pianist Jayson Gillham. Right: MSO managing director Sophie Galaise.

Sacked orchestra chief may have to pay pianist $18k

Jayson Gillham is going after the Melbourne Symphony’s former managing director, and current COO, as part of his discrimination suit against the orchestra.

August 2024

Lendlease chairman Michael Ullmer: reducing his commitments

Michael Ullmer steps off stormy MSO

Former MSO chairman Michael Ullmer resigned from the orchestra’s International Advisory Board last week.

Paul Becker, the founder and CEO of Art Money, has run out of operating capital.

Christie’s-backed art fintech puts finishing touches on recap

It also opened a $US50 million debt book opportunity alongside the equity round and told backers it would be open to a sale or join venture discussions.

April 2024

“Backstage looks different these days”: Frontier Touring chief executive Dion Brandt and chief operating office Susan Heymann

Forget sex, drugs and rock’n’roll: kale and kombucha take over touring

Frontier Touring has a new-look team, but it’s not the only thing in the music biz that has changed.

March 2024

Peter Atkins and Dana Harris in their home and studio amongst their collection of Clement Meadmore’s iconic industrial designs.

Local Vinnies a treasure trove for early pieces by renowned sculptor

From Detroit to local markets, two Melbourne artists spent 25 years assembling an unrivalled collection of mid-century design pieces by Clement Meadmore.

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Brad Pitt road-tripping with photographer Ryan McGinley for GQ magazine.

Why the biggest celebrities in the world trust this photographer

New York-based artist Ryan McGinley has road-tripped with Brad Pitt, hung out with Kate Moss and got Troye Sivan to strip. Now he’s in Melbourne to explain what drives him.

February 2024

The artist in his studio. He “needs to touch [flowers] every day, to keep the relationship alive”.

The man who listens to flowers (to world acclaim)

Artist and florist Makoto Azuma arranges, explodes and entombs blooms in resin in a never-ending quest to help them express their beauty.

In the last years of his life, Harold Mitchell engaged in two great pleasures: reading and gossip.

‘The last cheque that I write bounces’: vale Harold Mitchell

The advertising pioneer, who died last week aged 81, struggled with personal challenges, including alcoholism, weight and marriage failure.

January 2024

Melbourne Art Foundation chief executive Maree Di Pasquale pictured at the Sullivan + Strumf Gallery.

Collectors and wannabes take note: Melbourne Art Fair is where it’s at

A total reboot of the 35-year-old fair is on track to attracting the big money away from its behemoth NSW counterpart, Sydney Contemporary

December 2023

Barry Humphries was honoured at the Opera House in Sydney.

‘May our gladioli bloom in celebration’: Barry Humphries farewelled

King Charles, Rupert Murdoch, Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Webber led tributes at a state memorial at Sydney’s Opera House for the man who ‘invented a language’ for Australia and took it to the world.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/melbourne-arts-5z8