The Sydney Opera House today revealed the full line-up for its centrepiece contemporary music event, Vivid LIVE 2023, taking place from Friday 26 May – Saturday 17 June as part of Vivid Sydney, Australia’s largest festival of light, music, ideas, and – this year – food.
Transforming the Opera House inside and out, Vivid LIVE 2023 forms part of Vivid Sydney’s Music program and will feature over 45 artists, including 19 international artists, six Australian exclusives, three orchestral collaborations and four party collectives, presented all across the world-famous building: from the acoustically enhanced Concert Hall, to the vaulted Joan Sutherland Theatre, the intimate spaces of the Utzon Room and the Drama Theatre, the legendary dance floor of the Studio and, most publicly, on the iconic sails.
Curated for the eighth time by the Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall, the Vivid LIVE program will showcase a curated series of Australian premieres, exclusives and bespoke projects celebrating iconic and ambitious artists that defy expectation and break new ground.
“You’ll remember when the music strikes you at the Sydney Opera House this year. From Cat Power exclusively reinterpreting the moment Bob Dylan went electric, Devonté Hynes going classical with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in his only Australian appearance, Jaguar Jonze’s unique one-off presentation of The Art of Broken Pieces, to José González stripping everything back to just himself and a guitar for his exclusive residency celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his seismic album Veneer.
We are incredibly proud to host the Sydney debuts of Max Richter’s majestic, moving Ambient Orchestra and the mighty Ethel Cain, to present the triumphant return of Ella Mai and welcome Yaeji back for two exclusive nights, and to finally present the first Sydney Opera House headline performances from artists like Budjerah, Weyes Blood, Thundercat, Becca Hatch, Sleaford Mods, Birdz & Fred Leone and many others.
And, as always, we hand the building over to the brilliant local collectives who help make Sydney somewhere worth living – from House of Mince’s 12th birthday to Mad Racket, Picnic and Future Classic’s Studio parties and Low Life’s stunning curation of Scandinavian post-punk plus more, over two evenings of Posh Isolation.
Lighting of the Sails fittingly honours Australia’s legendary artist John Olsen in the 50th anniversary year of the Opera House, home to Olsen’s beguiling mural Salute to Five Bells. A dazzling arc of Olsen’s most significant works will be brought to life by Curiious.
I’m elated to contribute the 2023 Vivid LIVE music program to Sydney’s ongoing renaissance. Vivid Sydney continues to be a galvanising force, reigniting life in the heart of this city I deeply care for, especially in the 50th year of the Sydney Opera House – that is, after all, everyone’s house,” says Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music and Vivid LIVE Curator, Ben Marshall.
“Vivid Sydney 2023 is a celebration of authenticity, an invitation to connect and a chance to create and we are delighted to continue our partnership with Sydney Opera House to showcase this through Vivid LIVE and Lighting of the Sails as part of Vivid Sydney 2023,” said Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini.
