Sydney
Festival today announced three shows from its 2013 program, as well as some
changes to its free program for the 2013 Festival, which runs from January
5-27.
The
three shows are all highlights of the 2013 program, and are a taste of what is
to come from Lieven Bertels’ first year as Festival Director. Tickets for these
shows go on sale on September 13, with the full program announced on October
23.
Lieven
Bertels is delighted at the opportunity to give a preview of what’s to come.
“Now that spring has well and truly arrived, we couldn’t wait to tell people
just a few shows from our exciting line-up for the 2013 Festival. From Vivienne
Westwood fashion and New York pop, to high-energy street circus from Colombia,
these three shows are a great taster of what’s to come. By announcing these
shows early, we’re giving more people the opportunity to plan their summer in
Sydney.”
Minister
for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, said, “Now heading into
its 37th year, Sydney Festival continues to be a summer ‘must see’ celebration,
entertaining locals and visitors from interstate and overseas alike and contributing
to our harbour city’s cultural diversity. I encourage everyone to enjoy the
Sydney Festival experience, one of the most popular arts and cultural events on
the NSW Events Calendar.”
Strutting
its way into the opulent surrounds of Sydney Town Hall, the eccentrically
fabulous Semele Walk is the larger-than-life collision of Handel’s
dramatic Semele and the exclusive costumes of fashion designer Vivienne
Westwood. Semele Walk features models and performers in
Westwood couture rampaging the entire length of a 30 metre gleaming white
catwalk, all for the benefit of the audience sitting in traverse as befits any
fashion show.
Directed
by Ludger Engels and conducted by Sweden’s Olof Boman, Semele
Walk features Berlin’s chamber music ensemble, Kaleidoskop (also
dressed in Westwood couture) and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. The music
is vibrant, varied and wild, with Handel's heroine Semele as the prototype of
20th century punk and Jupiter dressed in a sequinned kilt and diamond-studded
socks as befitting the King of the Gods.
Festival
favourite David Byrne (ex Talking Heads) returns to Sydney’s State
Theatre with another Festival friend, St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark).
Happenstance brought Byrne and St. Vincent together, but their new
collaboration Love This Giant feels more like fate. The NYC-based duo
bring along a brass band in lieu of a traditional rock line-up, resulting in
their boundary-erasing mix of melody, colour and sound.
Meanwhile,
fresh a sell-out run at London’s Roundhouse and New York, and extended seasons
in Paris, comes the exhilarating thrill of the Latin street circus,
Circolombia, with their show URBAN. Audiences will gape at the visceral
rawness, brazen attitude and high-voltage energy of the performers as they
execute routines peppered with triple somersaults, backflips, propelling
themselves through skipping ropes and from tetter-boards onto 3-men-high human
towers. The troupe’s gritty, no-holds-barred autobiographical show has put a
rocket under contemporary circus, and will be sure to shake up Parramatta’s
Riverside Theatres.
Also
in Parramatta, and as one of the newest addition to its free program, Sydney
Festival can confirm the return of Sydney Festival Parramatta, a 15 day
event bookended by two free outdoor events – Parra Opening Party on
Saturday 19 January, and the Closing Night Event on Saturday 26 January,
as part of Parramatta’s Australia Day celebrations.
The
Festival also announced some changes to its free outdoor program. Symphony
in The Domain will be held on Saturday 26 January as part of the Australia
Day celebrations. Summer Sounds in The Domain returns on Saturday
12 January.
For
2013, the Festival is restyling its free opening celebration. With ANZ as
Major Sponsor, Day One: An Opening in Three Acts will offer a series of
events throughout the day and into the evening, utilising some of Sydney’s
favourite pedestrian precincts – Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and The Domain –
providing entertainment for families and folk of all ages. Day One: An
Opening in Three Acts will have something glamorous, something fun and
something very, very big. Stay tuned on October 23 when the details of Day
One will be announced alongside the full program.
Semele
Walk Sydney Town Hall, January 11-15
Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 www.sydneyfestival.org.au/semele
David
Byrne & St Vincent State Theatre. January 17, 18
Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 www.sydneyfestival.org.au/giant
URBAN
Riverside Theatres, January 15-27
Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 www.sydneyfestival.org.au/urban
1 comment:
looking forward to experiencing Semele's walk
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