In the SMH today (5 April) Peter MacCallum said that the Sydney Phil's performance of Beethoven 9, 4th movement was 'sub-professional'. I heard the performance too and was pretty disappointed both with the standard of performance in the Moya Henderson (which I thought was pretty awful) and definitely in the Beethoven (what a bizarre program!).

Given that Sydney Phillies are supposed to represent a high standard (but clearly don't get there)and that they also are granted large amounts of Government funding through ArtsNSW and the Australia Council, one has to wonder about the future of this organisation and the amount of resources they suck up.

Did anyone else hear these performances? And was there any other decent choral music on offer over Easter?

Jeoffry Katz