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WITH THE SYDNEY SYMPHONY
CONDUCTOR RICHARD GILL OAM

Join us in The Domain as conductor and guide Richard Gill leads the Sydney Symphony through the work of some of Australia’s most brilliant composers before taking us back to the beauty and inspiration of the giants of the classical canon.

Australian composers and musicians have a respected, unique place on the world stage across all musical fields, and have become an intrinsic part of our culture. This year’s concert celebrates them.

The first half features works by Percy Grainger, Graeme Koehne, Ross Edwards, Matthew Hindson and Nigel Westlake, while the second half takes us back to Europe and favourite compositions by Dvorák, Lehár and Tchaikovsky.

PROGRAM

P STANHOPE Jet-Stream – Fanfare
HINDSON LiteSpeed
KOEHNE Elevator Music
EDWARDS Maninyas – Violin Concerto: 1st movement
WESTLAKE Cudmirrah Fanfare
GRAINGER Handel in the Strand
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DVOØÁK New World Symphony: 1st movement
LEHÁR Paganini: ”Girls were made to love and kiss”
LEHÁR The Merry Widow: Vilja Song
LEHÁR The Land of Smiles: “Yours is my heart alone”
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.4: Finale
TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture

Franz Lehár works sung by special guest tenor Roy Best.
Maninyas violin solo performed by Dene Olding.
Concertmaster, Dene Olding.

FOURPLAY STRING QUARTET
5:15pm

FourPlay’s show is unlike any other string quartet in the world. The energy and sound created is more like that of a rock band, as is their on-stage presentation and banter. Unlike traditional string quartets they use two violas as opposed to two violins to produce a thicker, deeper sound. Their bold interpretations of both classical and contemporary repertoire range from the Beastie Boys to Jeff Buckley, Depeche Mode to Charles Mingus plus an array of original works. They will change the way you look at string quartet forever. Come down to the Domain early as this special appearance is not to be missed.

Old/World New World is playing as part of the Festival at the Domain series. For more events at this precinct, click here.

Company/production special thanks and acknowledgements.

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

"They are like cinema for the ears" — SBS Television

"There are parallels with the taught propulsion of Philip Glass’s music and with the ultra modern and sometimes quixotic Kronos Quartet. They spit in the eye of classical romanticism, chain-sawing into these songs and then throwing them together in new shapes" — Rolling Stone (re FourPlay)

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COMMENTS

ellie keft 07/12/08

It doesn't say what time it starts??

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Sydney Festival 08/12/08

Hi Ellie, please see the right black column of event pages for dates, times and durations. Festival Symphony starts at 8pm.

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Kate 19/12/08

Sit on the Lawn? Can we bring picnic blanket?

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Cameron 05/01/09

will people be ok if we brought fold out seats to use or will everyone be expected to sit on blankets?

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Catherine Devenish 05/01/09

Does the string quartet start at 5.15 then the orchestra at 8pm?

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Lisa 06/01/09

When is this on - there's no date?

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Sydney Festival 06/01/09

Hi Catherine, FourPlay are opening the evenings performances and the Sydney Symphony will begin at 8pm.

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M 08/01/09

Hi, where is the free bike parking for this event? Thanks

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TCHAIKOVSKY 11/01/09

how long does the fourplay last..or are on stage..

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Danielle 11/01/09

just wondering if there are still fireworks at the end of the night? Many thanks

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Katherine 13/01/09

For seats - generally camping chairs are too tall as you block the people behind you from seeing. Those super short camping chairs that sit on the ground are good and in previous years we have hired those on the day. Not sure if they are doing that again this year, it doesn't say on here.

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beats 18/01/09

what a tease to chose playing the 1st movement of the new world symphony over the 4th haha

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sherree 19/01/09

can you bring a bottle of wine to the symphony?

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Janet 19/01/09

Is the whole area open to everyone as it's supposed to be a free concert for all people in Sydney or is the front cordoned off for special invitees only and why? (Last week nearly half the area (front of course) was surrounded by barriers!

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Kat 21/01/09

Can you bring wine and food to this event?

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Sydney Festival 21/01/09

- You are welcome to bring a picnic blanket but get there early to secure a good position - You can bring low folding chairs as long as they do not obscure the view of those behind you - You will be able to hire chairs on the night - There will be fireworks at the end of the night - You are welcome to bring food and alcohol to the event but please refrain from bringing glass as The Domain is used for sporting events and broken glass endangers the players

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Agata 23/01/09

The forcast is looking a little grim for tomorrow - will it go ahead rain, hail or shine?

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Albert 23/01/09

Will canons be used for the performance of 1812 Overture?

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Dee 23/01/09

Will there be food and drinks available to be purchased there?

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Cherrie Bourke 25/01/09

I rate the symphony as the 5* event of the festival and I understand that we must have a vip section as these people have paid for the rest of us to enjoy the event for free but please stop the rudeness of some of these so called vips. They come in late at the beginning and after interval and worse they leave early. A lot of them must have a bladder the size of a pea as they are constantly going in and out during the performance. The rest of us manage to sit through the first/second half without a toilet break and many of us have been there since the early hours of the morning and sat all day in the heat/rain/wind or whatever nature throws at us. Please police this trend which is getting worse each year and interferes with the enjoyment of others and is an insult to the performers. Thankyou

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Boston legal 25/01/09

The New World was torture. We would never pay money to listen to that. In future would you kindly stick to the classic European composers, alternatively, play the New World in the second half so that gives us the option to leave early.

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peter 27/01/09

I agree with Boston. Its sad to have to say this but the Australian composers were embarassing. I mean, is that the best we can offer? It was a cacophony of discordant and meaningless mixtures of banging and clanging dressed-up in cheap polyester post-modernism discourse.

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Cricket 28/01/09

I agree with Boston Legal. The first have of the music was awful. I prefer the music by those who died many moons ago on the other side of the world.

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Lou 29/01/09

I'm disappointed I missed the Symphony this year! I'll have to make up for it at the Opera in the Domain this Saturday.

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asd 30/01/09

Good to hear that I am not the only one who didn't enjoy the 'New World' part. I nearly left, but glad that I stayed, because the second part was great, as usual.

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Anthony 30/01/09

Is there opera in the park this Saturday???..31st??

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