COVER STORY
Joshua Bell
With a full time concert and recording career, not to mention a string of TV appearances like Mozart in the Jungle, the violin virtuoso has still found time to take up the leadership of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Ahead of their Australian tour, we profile a young gun turned experienced hand.

FEATURES
Theme & Variations
Few read Goethe’s Wilhelm Meister nowadays, yet its songs remain among the most popular ever set. Malcolm Martineau is an expert guide through 100 years in the life of Mignon.

The Marchesi Effect
To Australians, Nellie Melba may be the most famous pupil of Madame Mathilde Marchesi, but in the 19th century she was everyone’s go-to for vocal lessons. So what was her secret?

Kate the Great
Currently playing Shakespeare’s Richard III, she’s also written a new play about the notorious ‘mad monk’ Rasputin. We ask a hectic Kate Mulvany how she remembers what day it is.

Wagner in Love
Richard Wagner could never be described as backward in coming forward, especially in matters of the heart. Peter Bassett examines the musical fruits of his various amours.

Easter Oratorio
When people think of Easter and Bach, it’s the Passions that spring to mind. But the composer also wrote an Easter Oratorio. Madeleine Easton and Sir John Eliot Gardiner help tell the tale.

INTERVIEW
Conductor Jaap van Zweden
The Concertgebouw’s youngest concertmaster now heads both the New York and the Hong Kong PHilharmonic. Angus McPherson talks to a busy maestro about the challenges of youth and Wagner.

REGULARS
What I’m Listening To Guitarist Slava Grigoryan Five Questions For Composer Max Richter Around The World Sir David McVicar’s Pelléas thrills Glasgow Guest Column King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin at 150 Guy Noble’s Soapbox Let’s not torture the audiences of tomorrow Opera Column Richard Mills enjoys a Bellini or two Did You Hear About Scriabin’s ridiculously grand designs Backstage With Harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani World Premiere Joseph Tawadros pushes his oud to the limit Rising Star Cellist Caleb Wong Composer of the Month Beethoven and his operatic ambitions Musical Journey There’s more to Zürich than gnomes and fondue Reviews The latest CD reviews plus the Limelight chart Panorama This month’s round-up of everything worth experiencing in dance, theatre, visual art, literature and film What’s On The must-see musical events around Australia this month Broadcast Guide ABC Classic FM & Australia’s independent radio stations My Music Actor John Waters

GET YOUR COPY
The March 2017 issue of Limelight is available at retailers across Australia and digitally through Zinio.
You can also call Limelight on (02) 8599 4204 or email to purchase a copy over the phone: $9.95 plus $7.20 postage and handling (includes tracking and guaranteed next day delivery within the Express Post network).

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Subscribe to Limelight in April and you’ll be in the running to win a Festival Four package for two people to the 2017 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. You can select any four concerts* from the Festival’s Evening Series and Sunset Series, from Friday July 28 to Sunday August 5. More than 40 musicians from around the world will perform over nine days. Valued at $389.00

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EDITOR’S DOZEN
Wondering what to listen to this month? Well wonder no more – Limelight’s got your back (and ears) with this specially curated Spotify playlist: a selection of twelve tracks reviewed in this issue.