Page 215 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

ENTER T AINMENT IN SY DNEY  213

Choral Music Dance performance art are likely to
Comprised of four choirs, the There is an eclectic variety appear here.
300-member Festival Chorus, the of dance on offer in Sydney. Bangarra Dance Theatre
100-member Symphony Chorus, The Australian Ballet has two uses traditional Aboriginal and
the 32-member Chamber Singers seven-week Sydney seasons at Torres Strait Islander dance and
and the 25-member Vox, the the Opera House: one in March/ music as its inspiration, infused
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs April, the other in November/ with contemporary elements.
are the city’s finest. They perform December. The company’s reper- It makes outback interstate and
at the Opera House. December toire spans traditional through to international tours, but is based
is the focal point of Sydney’s modern, although it is perhaps in Sydney.
choral scene, with regular most noted for classical ballets The startling and original
massed choir performances such as Swan Lake and Giselle. Legs on the Wall are a physical
of Handel’s Messiah. Sydney Dance Company is theatre group who work all
The Australian Youth Choir the city’s leading modern dance over the world, combining
is booked for many private group, often combining its circus and aerial techniques
functions, but if you are lucky, vigorous productions with with dance and narrative
you may catch one of their innovative musical scores. to form a heady mix. Their
major annual performances. The company has performed spectacular performances
One of Sydney’s most in Italy, New York, London and take place in intimate theatres
impressive vocal groups is the China. Productions are mostly or use dramatic settings, such
Café of the Gate of Salvation, staged at the Sydney Opera as skyscrapers, from which the
described as an “Aussie blend House, but are, on occasion, performers are suspended.
of a capella and gospel.” held at The Wharf or the Roslyn
The choir of St James’ Church Packer Theatre (see pp210–11). Golden Oldies
is an excellent choral group. Rafaela Bonachela was appointed
The orchestral masses artistic director in 2009. Seniors are treated to concerts
performed in January, such as The Performance Space, by well-known Australian
those by Mozart, Haydn and which is now located at the performers, including tenor
Schubert, usually fill the church Carriageworks, is very popular David Hobson, several times
to capacity, so arrive early. for its experimental dance a year through The Good Old
Former choir members who and movement theatre. Artists Days series. There are morning
are now professional soloists with backgrounds in dance, and afternoon performances at
also occasionally perform. mime, circus work, Butoh or the Sydney Town Hall.
DIRECTORY
Opera Sydney Symphony Chamber Music Dance
Orchestra
Opera Australia Tel 8215 4600. Australian Chamber Australian Ballet
Tel 9318 8200. ∑ sydneysymphony. Orchestra Tel 1300 369 741.
∑ opera.org.au com Tel 8274 3888. ∑ australianballet.
∑ aco.com.au com.au
Sydney Opera House Sydney Youth
Bennelong Point. Orchestra Australia Ensemble Bangarra Dance
Map 1 C2. Tel 9250 7111. Tel 9251 2422. Tel 9385 4874. Theatre
∑ sydneyopera ∑ syo.com.au ∑ ae.unsw.edu.au Tel 9251 5333.
house. com St James’ Church ∑ bangarra.com.au
Contemporary Legs on the Wall
Sydney Town Hall Music 173 King St. Map 1 B5.
483 George Street. Tel 8227 1300. ∑ sjks. Tel 9560 9479. ∑ legs
Map 4 E2. Tel 9265 9333. Eastside Arts org.au onthewall.com.au
∑ sydneytownhall. 395 Oxford St, Paddington. Performance Space
com.au Tel 93312646. Choral Music 245 Wilson St, Everleigh.
∑ paddingtonuca. Tel 8571 9111.
Orchestral Music org.au Australian Youth Choir ∑ performancespace.
Tel 1300 761 039. com.au
Australian Fourplay ∑ niypaa.com.au Sydney Dance
Brandenburg ∑ fourplay.com.au Café of the Gate of Company
Orchestra Musica Viva Salvation ∑ sydneydance
Tel 9328 7581. ∑ brand Tel 8394 6666. ∑ cafeofthegateof company.com
enburg.com.au ∑ mva.org.au salvation.com.au
City Recital Hall Synergy Sydney Philharmonia Golden Oldies
Angel Place. Map 1 B4. Tel 9663 5532. Choirs The Good Old Days
Tel 8256 2222. ∑ synergypercussion. Tel 8274 6200. ∑ sydney ∑ goodolddays
∑ cityrecitalhall.com com philharmonia.com.au concerts.com.au

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