Publisher's Synopsis
From opera legend Dame Joan Sutherland to singer and actor Kylie Minogue, from Mental as Anything to the Australian Chamber Orchestra, from ballet prodigy Sir Robert Helpmann to opera librettist David Malouf, a rich and representative tapestry of Australia comes alive in these pages. The performing arts in Australia have both a colourful history and a dynamic contemporary life. The scope and vibrancy of this area of Australian culture have played a large part in the development of a distinctively Australian identity from colonial times to the present. This dictionary is a guide to 200 years of entertainment and cultural influence. It is intended as a reference both for people involved in the performing arts, and for those who simply enjoy the fruits of their efforts. theatre, film, radio and television, and this second on music, opera and dance. The volume provides alphabetical listings of many different aspects of music, opera and dance: composers, conductors and choreographers, musicians and pop groups; librettists and lyricists; plot outlines of major dance and opera works; and awards, venues and festivals.
