The best classical music stories of 2023
Music continues to prove its power to inspire, uplift and unite.
In 2023, Australia named the cello its favourite instrument and came together in the Classic Choir to sing Summer Together in choirs around the country.
The film industry celebrated Leonard Bernstein, and we saw music and science come together to show how classical concerts synchronise audiences' hearts.
We caught up with incredible musicians, from the likes of Ray Chen and pianist-composer Yiruma, to the next generation of talented artists including 13-year-old violinist and composer Ellie Malonzo.
Here are some of the most memorable classical music stories of 2023.
The cello is named Australia's favourite instrument in the Classic 100
Ed Le Brocq seated with his cello, fresh from the studio for the Classic 100 weekend.(ABC Classic: Matthew Lorenzon)
In what was your second most popular Classic 100 in 22 years, the cello took out the top spot as Australia's favourite instrument.
While 27 instruments from the symphony orchestra placed in the top 100, instruments from all over the world featured in the top 100, across all continents (except Antarctica).
Purple Wiggle Lachy celebrated your number 100 instrument, the Keytar, with an epic take on Paganini and Jeremy Fernadez advocated for #JusticeForPiano, after the instrument came in second place.
Explore all of the results, and watch the Classic 100 in Concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on ABC iview.
Recreating Leonard Bernstein for Maestro
After years of teasing, the new Leonard Bernstein biopic was released earlier this month. It's received rave reviews, four Golden Globe nominations and critics are suggesting it's going to be a hot contender for the Oscars.
Bradley Cooper prepared for six years to play the iconic Bernstein. We asked some Australian musicians to weigh in on his performance.
In another win for conductors on screen, Cate Blanchett won a Golden Globe for her role in TÁR. Blanchett treated us to a mesmerising performance with Tamara-Anna Cislowska in January.
Mairi Nicolson celebrates 45 years with the ABC
Legendary Australian broadcaster and ABC Classic's 'Queen of opera', Mairi Nicolson, began her career in radio in 1978.
This year she celebrated her 45th anniversary with the ABC and shared some reflections on the special chemistry that happens when the red light goes on.
Ray Chen brought the 'rizz' to ABC Classic
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Before it was named word of the year by the Oxford Dictionary superstar violinist Ray Chen showed us what 'rizz' is all about when he shared a story of how he asked out a fellow musician at music camp.
Watch his gorgeous rendition of cello-favourite The Swan and find out what Ray picked when we challenged him to choose between some of the most popular violin music.
Just one of the many incredible guests we had across 2023, you can also go behind the scenes recording Soweto Gospel Choir, meet classical guitarist MILOŠ, and discover the unexpected inspiration behind Yiruma's social-media famous River Flows In You.
And check out some of the other amazing performances on Duet, including Kate Ceberano, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Tim Freedman, and Nicholas Altstaedt.
The 13-year-old violinist and composer already writing music for orchestras
Be amazed by Ellie Malonzo, who has already written and starred in two violin concertos at just 13 years old.
She shared her Baroque inspirations and some of her secrets for writing for orchestras.
Sad farewells to artists who died in 2023
We commemorate musicians who died in 2023 including mezzo-soprano Jacqueline Dark, screen composer Carl Davis, and Melbourne's famous street pianist Natalie Trayling, who captured the hearts of so many.
Classical music concerts synchronise audience hearts
A news study has shown that classical music concerts synchronise audience hearts.
According to a new study, heart rate, breathing and skin conductance demonstrate how listening to live classical music together moves audiences.
Scientists also tried to solve the age-old question of where musical talent comes from. Whether it's nature, or nurture, or a mix of both, ABC Classic's Greta Bradman reckons everyone should "just get in there and get into music."
This year the Hush Foundation celebrated 20 years of working with Australian artists to create music that brings calm and optimism to patients, families, and staff in stressful health and care environments.
And in another project using music to help during difficult times, after Mark lost his wife, hearing on-hold music put him in a dark place. Composer Jessica Wells changed that with some specially commissioned hold music.
Celebrating singing together in the Classic Choir
After three years of mostly singing together online, for this year's Classic Choir we joined voices together in person in Summer Together, by Elena Kats-Chernin with words by Gunai poet Kirli Saunders.
We held our first in-person rehearsals at the ABC in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide, and choirs around Australia performed music from the Classic Choir Songbook in their end-of-year concerts.
Young adult choir VOX star in this year's music video, and a 600-strong Sydney Philharmonia Choirs with orchestra performed Summer Together at the Sydney Opera House.
Take a look back at the evolution of Classic Choir, and four years of making music together to celebrate the season from an Australian perspective.
Posted 28 Dec 2023