Peter Garrett's unwavering optimism and Jo Davies' first season at the helm of Opera Australia

Peter Garrett has still got a fire in his belly at 70. The True North, his new solo album, tackles similar ground to an Oils record—the climate crisis, politics and addiction to technology, but it's his own songwriting voice out front. The songs contain messages of hope and anger in equal measure. The music is provided by The Alter Egos (which includes Midnight Oil alumnus Martin Rotsey and The Jezabels' Heather Shannon) as well as his daughters Grace and May on backing vocals.

Opera Australia is a beast of a company, most famously nestled beneath the sails of the Sydney Opera House but also in Melbourne, and across the East Coast. Programming for multiple cities, venues, audiences and tastes is a massive undertaking that British director Jo Davies took on when she was announced as the new Artistic Director of the company last year. Now with her feet firmly under the table and her inaugural season hitting the stage, she talks with Andy about her programming choices, which see a significant Australian and new opera presence, collaborations with other smaller opera companies, as well as smatterings of musical theatre and a production of Tosca staged at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena.

Music in Peter Garrett

Titles: Innocence Parts 1 & 2, Meltdown, Human Playground, Permaglow, EverybodyComposer: Peter Garrett (except Human Playground which was written by Ainslie Wills)Artist: Peter GarrettAlbum: The True NorthLabel: Sony Music 19658844501Music in Jo Davies

Title: Overture, from Così fan tutteComposer: MozartArtist: La Petite Bande, conduted byt Sigiswald KuijkenAlbum: Mozart: Così fan tutteLabel: Brilliant Classics 99555

Title: Breaking The Waves (excerpt)Composer: Missy Mazzoli, libretto Royce VavrekArtist: Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Steven Osgood with soprano Kiera Duffy

The Music Show is made on Gadigal and Gundungurra Country

Technical production by Russell Stapleton on Gadigal Country