Melbourne just wrapped up a blow-out festival devoted to the music of JS Bach. “But did this 17-day program of events constitute a festival? Sadly, not really. A festival summons up images of a city caught under the spell of the performing arts: when shows are the talk of the town, where there is color and movement on the streets day and night, and there is such a flood of international artists that you might end up in a table-top tango with an Argentinian performance artist at five in the morning. Maybe that happens in Rio, or Adelaide, but not Melbourne.” – The Age (Melbourne)
SO WHAT’S THE POINT? “What is the charter of the multi-artform Melbourne Festival? To offer choice and take the odd gamble? Or to project the ideas and tastes of the artistic director charged with pulling the event together?” – Sydney Morning Herald