Reviews

Review: Johnnies & Mehmets

Stage Whispers​

​This was a brilliant program that is sure to move and inspire. Your toes will be tapping, and you might even find yourself dancing along. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this exciting musical mix. 

Review: Southern Cross Soloists launch 2025 in a glittering Sunset Soiree

ClassikON​

After a week of rainy weather in Brisbane, the sun came out just in time for Southern Cross Soloists’ final Sunset Soiree for the year. Held at the Judith Wright Arts Centre on Saturday afternoon, this concert gave us the chance to reflect on the year that has been and hear about what’s in store for their 2025 season.  music landscape. 

Review: Perfumes of the East

Stage Whispers​

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SXS's welcome return to the stage again demonstrated a selection of diverse compositions and arrangements from a group of talented and passionate artists. The concert began with a short, eloquent demonstration of the didgeridoo from Artist in Residence and Queenslander Chris Williams who has made a remarkable name for himself as an exponent of the instrument internationally whilst additionally collaborating with established composers to commission new works for the instrument over the next ten years. 

Review: Divine Alchemy

Backtstreet Brisbane​

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Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) opened 2024 with Divine Alchemy, a concert full of strong emotional imagery and a program inspired by the transfiguration of suffering into beautiful art. Alongside classical composers like Mozart, Bach, and Debussy, Divine Alchemy included a number of premieres honouring loved ones who had passed, including the world premiere of the newest work for the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project.

Review: Bangalow Chamber Music Festival

Australian Stage​

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They say it takes a village... well, Bangalow is that village and the endless efforts from mentors, sponsors, teachers, and various arts grants, keeping the music and talent alive, is worthy of note, with Tania Frazer doing a herculean heavy-lifting event every year, for over twenty years. Keep the arts alive and ‘get with the program’.

Review: From the Heartland

Limelight​

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Music that shaped Central Europe explored in an eclectic program featuring jazz trumpeter James Morrison.

Review: City Classics

Blue Curtains Brisbane

"There is no doubt, however, as to the superlative talents of the concert’s musicians, which, in combination with Artistic Director Tania Frazer’s inspired (and inspiring) musical arrangements ensure that “City of Lights: From Paris, with Love” leaves a lasting impression upon its uplifted audience member’s hearts, not unlike that of its namesake magical destination. "

Review: Maps and Journeys

Weekend Notes

"I hope Maps and Journeys continues to tour and I look forward to hearing more collaborations from the Southern Cross Soloists."

Review: Fireworks and Fury (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

"SXS are celebrating their 27th year and 13th QPAC Concert Series as a Company in Residence at the QPAC. However, due to their rapid increase in popularity, the audience can no longer sit around the reversed stage in an intimate gathering, with their audience now filling the Concert Hall stalls!"

Review: Southern Cross Soloists Dream Away in 'Dreams and Visions'

The Creative Issue

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"The program showcased both the splendour of chamber music and the talent of the ensemble. Southern Cross Soloists showcased their strong ability to paint lyrical landscapes."

Review: Flowers, Birds, Fountains–Southern Cross Soloists take us to Spain

The Creative Issue

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"Guitarist Slava Grigoryan, together with ensemble Southern Cross Soloists, transported audiences across the seas to Spain and France on Sunday afternoon."

Review: Southern Cross Soloists Shine at Brisbane Music Festival

The Creative Issue

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"In all, it was a thoroughly refreshing concert, taking the listener on a journey through French chamber music from the comfort of their lounge-room. Alex, Tania, Jonathan and Alan performed music that danced, breathed, uplifted, haunted and stimulated."

Review: Lyrical Reflections

Stage Whispers

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"The concert ended with Elgar’s superb Enigma Variations, which was by turns bombastic, quirky and elegant."

Review: 2019 Bangalow Music Festival Conducted Conversations Through Chamber Music

classikON

Review: Maps and Journeys: Navigating the Sky (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★★ ½

"A stimulating and insightful musical journey through space and time, with a spectacular destination."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2018

Australian Stage

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"The Bangalow Music Festival is a jewel in the classical-music life of the Northern-Rivers. Long may it continue."

Review: Bangalow Music Festival (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ½

"A glorious setting for a winter chamber music festival."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2015

Australian Stage

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"The standard of performance was at a uniformly high level throughout the Festival."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2014

Australian Stage

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"The SCS are not about the 19th century, nor are they about contemporary music. They are simply about ensemble music. And they play wonderfully."

Review: Kiss Me, Katherina (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

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"Southern Cross Soloists continue their tradition of excellence, contributing to Queensland’s unique music scene."

Review: Celebrate!

Stage Whispers​

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, and with an informative and ingratiating verbal introduction from Co-Artistic Director and clarinetist Ashley Smith, SXS chamber group decided to present this concert primarily with a Viennese flavour, except for an opening item entitled 'Wayfinding', dedicated to the recent catastrophic LA fires. 

Review: Magic, Mystique and Melancholy

Weekend Notes​

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As we reflect on this splendid evening, one cannot help but appreciate the Southern Cross Soloists' unwavering commitment to excellence. With their 30th anniversary looming on the horizon, they continue to etch their legacy into the very fabric of Australia’s classical music landscape. 

Review: Perfumes of the East

ClassikOn ​

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Before the concert began, Southern Cross Soloists’ acting artistic director Ashley Smith, announced that pianist Konstantin Shamray was unwell and unable to perform, resulting in some last minute changes to the program. Luckily, the ensemble had some Mozart pieces that they’d prepared earlier ready to go. 

Review: Divine Alchemy

Weekend Notes​

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Conceived by the visionary Artistic Director, Tania Frazer, Divine Alchemy seamlessly interwove timeless classical masterpieces with thrilling new creations. The result was a discerning blend, culminating in a delightful afternoon of chamber music excellence, meticulously crafted and presented with the superb musicianship synonymous with Southern Cross Soloists (SXS).

Review: Whispers of the Heart

ClassikON​

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Southern Cross Soloists presented an enchanting evening of chamber music on Saturday night at the Judith Wright Arts Centre. Whispers of the Heart explored the romantic power of chamber music in an intimate setting. The audience was able to sit back and enjoy the music, whilst catching glimpses of the sunset between the city buildings. 

Review: Earth and Sky

David Bentley​

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 Main man at Beerwah, however, was didgeridoo master Chris Williams (also a highly regarded classical trumpeter) who delivered three sonorous works, including the world premiere of his composition The Wise Woman written in collaboration with renowned Australian composer Sean O’Boyle.

Review: City of Lights

ClassikON

"Southern Cross Soloists presented an exquisite program of chamber music inspired by Paris on Sunday afternoon in the QPAC concert hall."

Review: Bangalow Music Festival 2022

ClassikON

Bangalow Music Festival – fine food, stunning scenery, exquisite chamber music

Review: Fireworks and Fury

Stage Whispers

"SXS is a talented mix of intriguing musicians."

Review: Dreams and Visions (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"The Southern Cross Soloists delivered a delightful dreamscape bursting with technical skill and Australian flair."

Review: Souvenires De Aranjuez

Weekend Notes

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"It was probably as close as the largely late middle-aged respectable audience come to a "rave". We loved it all. For many in the audience, this may well have been their first live concert since COVID-19 began. They were probably hoping for something special. Southern Cross Soloists and Slava Grigoryan delivered."

Review: The Trumpet Unleashed

Stage Whispers

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"Southern Cross Soloists began their 25th anniversary season with a dynamic program of chamber music showcasing the trumpet and welcoming back trumpet virtuoso Miroslav Petkov."

CD Review: I’ll Walk Beside You (Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ½

"Teddy takes the middle road to be in Scotland afore ye."

Review: 2019 Bangalow Music Festival Turns 18

The Echo

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"Lovers of fine music had a wonderful treat on the weekend with some of the best players in the world."

Review: Lunar New Year: Memories from Childhood (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"A vibrant and eclectic blend of two contrasting cultures to create a unique and exhilarating concert."

Review: Thank You Southern Cross Soloists

Sydney Mozart Society

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"There was an exhilarating joy in last night's Southern Cross Soloists concert. On stage there were seven masterful musicians performing works of great composers in new arrangements full of fresh musical ideas and vibrant energy."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2017

Australian Stage

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"A particularly vibrant and brilliant incarnation of the Bangalow Festival."

Review: Rhapsody in Blue (Bangalow Music Festival, Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ★

"An engaging soirée Française underneath the Southern Cross."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2013

Australian Stage

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"Thank you Southern Cross Soloists and thank you Tania Frazer for “delivering the finest international and Australian ensembles and soloists” to our doorstep."

Review: Invisible Me: A QPAC and Southern Cross Soloists Production for Out of the Box

Stage Whispers

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"The Southern Cross Soloists have extended their performance prowess tenfold by stepping outside their everyday comfort zone as classical musicians."

Review: A sparkling 30th Birthday Concert for SXS in Brisbane

ClassikON​

Southern Cross Soloists celebrated their milestone 30th birthday with a joyous concert in the QPAC Concert Hall on Sunday afternoon. A sparkling chandelier, confetti and colourful dresses added to the festive spirit. 

Review: Magic, Mystique and Melancholy

Stage Whispers​

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Australia’s Southern Cross Soloists’ (SXS) final concert in the 15th QPAC Concert Series for 2024, where they have served as the company in residence, was a true celebration of their artistry. 

Review: SXS in Sydney

ClassikOn ​

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​Imagine a typically high standard Mozart Society concert, then add an all-Mozart programme brilliantly conceived, plus a group of nine of the top soloists in Australia and you don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict the result.

Review: Divine Alchemy

Limelight Review​

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A delightful and heartfelt musical journey, Divine Alchemy was a fitting start to Southern Cross Soloists’ 2024 seaThe inspiration for programming Divine Alchemy originated from selecting music that expressed either loss or trauma.son. 

Review: From the Heartland

4ZZZ​

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Morrison and Williams stunned the audience when combining the flugelhorn and upturned Dizzy Gillespie-styled bent trumpet with the droning didgeridoo. The eclectic combination was smooth and jazzy and only one of many highlights from Southern Cross Soloist’s second concert of their 14th QPAC Concert Series, highlighting Middle-European folksongs from the old country.

Review: SXS in the City!

ClassikON

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SXS’ inaugural Sunset Soiree Recital goes off with a BANG!

Review: City of Lights

InQueensland

"The audience was enthralled and uplifted by the Southern Cross Soloists’ first concert in its QPAC 2023 season on Sunday 29 February City of Lights: From Paris with Love."

Review: Bangalow Music Festival 2022 / Maps and Journeys

Australian Stage

Maps and Journeys: The World's First Astronomers is mesmerising, like a soundtrack to the birth of the earth, moon and stars movie, except the pictures are in our heads, conjured by composers and musicians and presented with passion.

Review: Southern Cross Soloists Dazzle in ‘Fireworks and Fury’

ClassikOn

"‘Fireworks and Fury’ was a brilliant display of the ensemble’s skill, with some truly virtuosic solos. It was thoroughly entertaining to see each of the soloists push their instrument to the limit.

Review: Brisbane Gala – Southern Cross Soloists with Chris Williams; Daniel de Borah (Melbourne Digital Concert Hall)

Limelight Magazine

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"A terrific showcase of Brisbane’s finest!"

Review: Souvenires De Aranjuez

Stage Whispers

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"The sound of castanets, flamenco dancing, and bull fights were frequently conjured up in this classical chamber concert headed by guitar soloist Slava Grigoyan. Cancelled in 2020 because of Covid restrictions, this Southern Cross Soloists concert has been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait."

Review: Lyrical Reflections (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ½

"SXS get up close and personal with a mixed bag of chamber works."

Review: 2019 Bangalow Music Festival: A Round-Up (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

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"Instrumental colour aplenty in this year's musical line-up."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2019

Australian Stage

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"The Southern Cross Soloists raised the roof."

Review: Lunar New Year: Memories from Childhood (Southern Cross Soloists)

Weekend Notes

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"a joyous celebration to begin the Year of the Pig. The program successfully merged ancient Chinese folk songs and instruments with animal-inspired Western classical music."

Review: Sydney Mozart Society Arrange To Please (Southern Cross Soloists)

classikON

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"All in all, a superbly constructed programme giving a wonderful evening of entertainment."

Review: Sydney Reviews: Bangalow Music Festival 2016

Australian Stage

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"This festival shone, in a welcome, gimmick-free celebration of really good music."

CD Review: Andrew Schultz: Deep Blue and Dirty (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

★ ★ ★ ★

"This disc features Andrew Schultz’s rather polite chamber and vocal music, performed by the eminent Southern Cross Soloists."

Review: French Revelations (Southern Cross Soloists)

Limelight Magazine

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"Matinee of popular French works, skillfully performed alongside Piers Lane and Marshall McGuire."