Victorian Bushfires Fundraiser
Sydney Festival, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Opera House present a special performance of Dawn Chorus
News flash in from the Sydney Festival: quick off the mark, the organisations named have organised a rapid response to Victoria’s plight.
The media release says: “The loss of life and massive destruction in the ongoing bushfires in Victoria are devastating. In support of the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal, Sydney Festival, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Opera House will present a special fundraising performance of Dawn Chorus on Sunday 15 February on The Monumental Stairs of Sydney Opera House.
If you were among the thousands who dragged themselves out of bed to get to Clifton Gardens, Balmoral, Nielsen Park or Bondi beach for any of the fourSydney Festival performances, you’ll know it will be (a) magical and (b) an appropriate and beautiful thing in the circumstances. The power of Dawn Chorus lies not only in the music, but in the hour of both reflection and quiet hope.
Dawn Chorus featured new and existing choral works and was performed by varying numbers of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. The response was overwhelming, says the Festival, with a total of more than 13,500 people attending.
In support of the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, Sydney Festival, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Opera House are coming together to present a special encore of Dawn Chorus.Festival volunteers will be on hand to collect donations. All donations will go to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
Directed by Brett Weymark, Dawn Chorus features works by Hildegard, Lauridsen, Gorecki and Tavener as well as specially commissioned works by contemporary Australian composers Iain Grandage, Raffaele Marcellino, John Peterson and Dan Walker.
Where: The Monumental Stairs, Sydney Opera House; When: Sunday, February 15 at 6am; Duration: 45-60mins, no interval. Cost: BY DONATION.
Sydney Festival volunteers will be collecting donations for the Red Cross. The Sydney Opera House Wilson Car Park will be open at 5am. More: www.sydneyfestival.org.au
