Three Australian success stories this week offset some of the downside of Opera Australia’s problematic annual report and a political spat over the politicisation of Venezuela’s famous El Sistema musical education programme. For the latter pair of stories, read on, but I thought I’d take a moment to focus on this week’s upside.

First, William Barton is set to become the first Indigenous Australian musician to play in Russia. That genuinely surprised me, but as far as we are aware that will be the case when he plays Kalkadungu, his co-composition with Matthew Hindson at a White Nights concert later this year. The opportunity comes thanks to maestro Daniel Smith – one of our high achieving, under-recognised exports, first Aussie to conduct at the Mariinsky and advocate for Australian music abroad.

Secondly, Greta Bradman has been signed to Decca Classics. Recording her first album round about now in London, Bradman, who has been described by Richard Bonynge as having a voice that conforms to the “true old fashioned bel canto sound – the sort we only dream about today,” has followed up her training at the prestigious vocal school in Cardiff by securing the high-profile deal.

And lastly,...