Ticket Giveaway
Luison Capote & The Cuban Groove

When: Friday 30 January at 8pm
Where: Sean & Dolly's, 220 William Street, Kings Cross
Tickets: $27
Bookings: click here

Luison Capote & The Cuban Groove is a Sydney-based Cuban/Latin band delivering authentic Cuban rhythm that makes your soul want to dance.

Drawing from styles such as Latin jazz, son cubano, rumba, afro, cha-cha-chá, bolero, and more, their music is deeply rooted in tradition while alive with modern energy.

Inspired by the music from Buena Vista Social Club, the band will take you on a musical journey to Cuba — a Caribbean night where rhythm, melody, and groove come together. The beats of the congas, Luison’s distinctive voice, and the interplay of piano, bass and drum create a musical conversation that bridges past and present, tradition and hot dance-floor.

2MBS Fine Music Sydney subscribers have the chance to win a double pass to see Luison Capote & The Cuban Groove on Friday 30 January at 8pm.

Ticket Giveaway
Bach Akademie Australia

When: 6 - 12 February
Where: Mosman Art Gallery and St James' Church, King Street
Tickets: $65 - $80 (concessions and student prices available)
Bookings: click here

Bach Akademie Australia collaborates with Australia’s premier vocal ensemble The Song Company to present Bach’s seven surviving motets alongside two works of contemporary genius, Australian composer Sandra Milliken’s Herr Jesus Christus and O Radiant Dawn by James MacMillan.

After hearing Bach's motet Singet dem Herrn for the first time in Leipzig in 1789, Mozart exclaimed, "Now there is something from which one can learn!”

J.S. Bach’s vocal motets represent the highest art of vocal writing achieved in the Baroque period and continue to have deep spiritual and emotional resonance.

2MBS Fine Music Sydney subscribers have the exclusive chance to win a double pass to see Bach Akademie Australia in Wollongong on Friday 6 February at 7.30pm.

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Baroque Masters

When: 18 - 24 February
Where: City Recital Hall, Sydney
Tickets: from $40

The 2026 Season opens with a vibrant tribute to the composers who sit at the very heart of the Brandenburg’s identity. Led by Artistic Director Paul Dyer, this concert celebrates the music that continues to inspire us, year after year.

Baroque Masters brings together the greats in one uplifting program. Enjoy the grandeur of Handel’s Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 6 No. 1, the joyful inventiveness of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, the elegance of Pachelbel’s Canon, and the fiery brilliance of Vivaldi.

From delicate solos to full ensemble fireworks, the orchestra moves with style, precision, and passion through some of the most enduring works of the Baroque.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Lunar New Year 2026

When: Sunday 15 March at 5pm
Where: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: from $99 + booking fee

Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Sydney Opera House with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
Founded in 1879, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is one of the earliest and best-known orchestral ensembles of its kind in Asia.

Led by Maestro Long Yu, hear selections from Chinese composer Elliot Leung's exciting Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours. Leung's works have been brought to life by the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and now make their Sydney debut.
Plus, hear classic works by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, featuring acclaimed cello soloist Jian Wang. 

Utzon Music 2026
Sydney Opera House

Where: Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Tickets $105 + booking fee, includes complimentary glass of Champagne Pommery on arrival.

The Utzon Music 2026 season at Sydney Opera House opens this weekend.

Experience a thrilling journey of music by world-class artists and instruments from across the globe. Across 11 intimate performances, delight in timeless melodies, bold new works and inspired collaborations, with instruments from the oud to the cello, the lute to the voice. No matter your taste, Utzon Music delivers something remarkable.

Explore the 2026 program and book your tickets today.

Lane Cove Community Band
Young Soloists’ Competition

The overall winner receives $1000. Entries close Friday 13 February at 10pm.

Entries for Lane Cove Community Band's 2026 Young Soloists’ Competition are now open!

The competition is open to students in Years 5 – 12 who are aged 18 or under at the date of entry and performing at AMEB Grade 6 level or higher.

Eligible instruments include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, brass, tuba and marimba, with other instruments considered upon approval.

All performers receive positive feedback, with prizes for semi-finalists and finalists.

Masato Suzuki
Bach and His World

What: Masato Suzuki's interview
When: Thursday 5 February at 1pm
Where: 2MBS Fine Afternoon and on demand

2MBS presenter Andrew Dziedzic introduces the sounds of Bach’s cantata Ah wie flüchtig, the first of four cantatas featured on Bach and his World.

Performed by Bach Collegium Japan, the program explores Bach’s wider musical world. You will also hear Andrew Dziedzic’s interview with Masato Suzuki, son of founder Masaaki Suzuki and the new Principal Conductor of Bach Collegium Japan.

In this interview, Masato Suzuki discusses the exciting new directions he is taking the ensemble.

Join 2MBS Fine Afternoon at 1pm on Thursday 5 February  to hear the featured cantatas and listen online to the exclusive interview.

Baroque and Before
Leave Your Feedback

Baroque and Before is on every Friday at 8pm. An exploration of the music of the medieval, renaissance and baroque.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the new time for our Baroque and Before program. Your feedback helps us understand how the schedule works for you and how it fits into your day.

Whether the new time has made it easier to listen, created challenges, or changed your overall experience, your perspective is important to us.

We’re especially interested in how the timing affects your enjoyment of the music, your ability to tune-in regularly, and your overall connection to the program.

Thank you for taking a moment to share your experience and help us shape future scheduling.

Become a 2MBS Premium Subscriber!

What: Hänsel and Gretel
When: 27 January - 28 February
Where: Sydney Opera House
Bookings: click here

Subscribe to 2MBS Fine Music Sydney for your chance to win free premium seats at the Sydney Opera House to hear Humperdinck’s beloved opera, Hänsel and Gretel performed by Opera Australia.

Deep in the dark woods, Hänsel and Gretel are hungry and looking for home. Just when it all seems hopeless, they stumble upon a spun-sugar house and an eccentric woman, who’s not as sweet as she seems. Will the plucky siblings outwit the wicked witch?

This whimsical production is a classic from acclaimed director Elijah Moshinsky, with plenty of humour and heart to balance the dark undertones of the Grimms’ fairytale.

The Rocks Laneway Cinema
Free Movies

When: Until Wednesday 26 February
Where: Playfair Street, The Rocks
Tickets: free* 
*Be sure to register for your free ticket. Tickets are released every Monday for the following week's Wednesday screening

Discover Laneway Cinema, a one-of-a-kind free outdoor movie experience tucked away in the heart of The Rocks.

Set among historic cobblestone laneways and beautifully preserved heritage buildings, this pop-up cinema creates a truly magical atmosphere beneath the night sky.

Perfect for a romantic date night, a relaxed midweek catch-up with friends or a peaceful solo escape, Laneway Cinema offers an easy way to unwind.

With rotating monthly themes and a fresh lineup of films every week, there’s always something new to enjoy, making it a must-visit destination for movie lovers of all kinds.

In Conversation
David Elton

David Elton performs with the Omega Ensemble which includes the premiere of 'A Turning Sky', a new concerto for trumpet and clarinet by Lachlan Skipworth, at the City Recital Hall in Sydney on February 12, at the Newcastle City Hall on February 13, and at the Melbourne Recital Centre on February 18.

Principal trumpet of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Elton, speaks about his career at the very top of the orchestral world and his ongoing commitment to new music.

He discusses his collaboration with Australian composer Lachlan Skipworth, including the upcoming premiere of a new double concerto for trumpet and clarinet with the Omega Ensemble, and reflects on what it means to help shape a work from its earliest stages.

He also shares insights into the art of orchestral playing, balancing virtuosity with blending one’s sound with the other players.

David traces his musical journey from early violin lessons and choral singing to discovering the trumpet, studying in Australia and the United States, and holding principal positions with major orchestras in Australia and overseas, including a remarkable period serving simultaneously as principal trumpet of both the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Along the way, he reflects on auditions, orchestral culture, teaching the next generation of musicians and the lifelong process of refining sound, technique and musical identity. It is a thoughtful and generous portrait of a musician who combines technical brilliance with curiosity, humility, and a deep love of music.