More for free, less Eurocentric, more Asia-Pacific friendly and celebrating after tough times are the overriding messages from Sydney Festival director Lindy Hume for her first year at the helm of Sydney’s premier arts event.
Hume has a tough time ahead as she attempts to step from the shadow of former festival director, Fergus Linehan. “Every year since 1977 under the bold skilful and often visually vibrant direction of my predecessors Sydney Festival has kept that promise. The challenge for each new director is to reinterpret that dream,’’ Hume said at last week’s launch. She said the overall purpose of the festival is to present “robust global conversations and to hold up a mirror to Sydney in new, surprising and beguiling ways”. To do this she has chosen an unusual and tantalising mixture of events and performances. The festival has also gone into partnership with the University of Sydney and plans to create a hub of the festival in the Inner West where several key events will be held. Hume had promised to make the festival more Asia-Pacific in focus. The most interesting inclusion is the Manganiyar Seduction a traditional Indian music concert that morphs into a visual and musical spectacular involving 43 Rajasthani musicians in a house-of-cards-like box structure. This will be coupled with a free concert in Parramatta park by A.R. Rahman, who won two Oscars for his work as a composer and songwriter on the film Slumdog Millionaire. First Night which has become the signature event of the festival and transforms most of the northern CBD into one giant street party, will feature a series of musical performances catering In keeping with recent years the festival has a strong emphasis on popular music, with US soul crooner Al Green appearing in Australia for the first time as part of First Night. He will be joined by John Cale of the Velvet Underground who will discuss underground music in Sydney during the late 70s and early 80s. Perhaps the most interesting item, musically speaking, is the Rogue’s Gallery. Conceived by actor Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski during filming of the popular pirate trilogy, Rogue’s gallery brings together an odd cast including actor Tim Robbins, Marianne Faithfull, Sarah Blasko and others in a concert of buccaneer ballads, sea shanties and songs of the sea. This will be on the Opera House forecourt for one night only. There will be a number of free events from First Night to the afore mentioned A.R Rahman concert in Parramatta as well as the Domain concerts and AAMI Ferrython on the Harbour. This year’s festival includes several dance items with the production Tempest: Without a Body as the main contender, Tempest has been described as a poignant reflection by the dancers of the MAU company on the post 9/11 world where a broken angel wanders through a desolate landscape. There is a lack of prominent original plays on this year so it is hoped that yet another interpretation of Hamlet will deliver something special. Hume said this German production of Shakespeare’s most famous play by director Thomas Ostermeier does just that. The festival guide warns audiences the play contains smoking and gun shots while Hume warns those in the front rows to “watch out for flying mud”. The Sydney Festival runs from January 9 - 30. For more information visit http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au. http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sydney-festival-promises-even-more/ -- regards, Vithur
