2000

2000 marked the year the city would host the Olympic Games, but prior to that, Sydney Festival put on its own spectacular show. As part of the Festival, internationally renowned Australian designer Marc Newson was commissioned to create a celebratory lighting scheme for the Sydney Opera House. The first of these, Sunset, was projected during the Festival, and the other three during the Olympic Arts Festival later in the year.

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Festival Director: Leo Schofield

2000 marked the year the city would host the Olympic Games, but prior to that, Sydney Festival put on its own spectacular show. As part of the Festival, internationally renowned Australian designer Marc Newson was commissioned to create a celebratory lighting scheme for the Sydney Opera House. The first of these, Sunset, was projected during the Festival, and the other three during the Olympic Arts Festival later in the year.

New additions to the program included a series of talks with Festival artists and twilight chamber music performances at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Philip Glass returned, this time performing with the Philip Glass Ensemble in Koyaanisqatsi Live, an Australian premiere. Geoffrey Rush starred in The Small Poppies, directed by none other than Festival stalwart Neil Armfield.

A special piece of Sydney Festival history was made thanks to the NSW Government, when the Festival was presented with a Stuart piano to be used exclusively during Sydney Festival performances. At other times, the piano was housed at Government House, to be used in recitals and performances. The Stuart piano was a unique instrument, veneered in magnificent Richmond River cedar from northern NSW.

OPERA

Elektra
Opera in one act by Richard Strauss
To a libretto by Hugo Von Hofmannsthal
After the drama by Sophocles
Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Staatsoper Unter Den Linden Berlin

THEATRE

The Weir
By Conor McPherson
The Royal Court Theatre Company

Keene/Taylor Theatre Project: The Best of Seasons 1-6
Six pieces of theatre written by Daniel Keene and directed by Ariette Taylor

The Sunshine Club
By Wesley Enoch and John Rodgers
Book and lyrics by Wesley Enoch
Music by John Rodgers
Script consultant: Nick Enright
Sydney Theatre Company

The Small Poppies
By David Holman
Directed by Neil Armfield
Company B Belvoir

Flight
Strange Fruit

DANCE

One Of A Kind
Choreography byJiří Kylián
Original music: Brett Dean
Solo cello: Pieter Wispelwey
Netherlands Dance Theatre

NDT.I x 4
Works byJiří Kylián and Paul Lightfoot
Netherlands Dance Theatre

CIRCUS

Cardoso Flea Circus
Maria Fernanda Cardoso

MUSIC

Philharmonia Orchestra
Programs 1, 2, 3 – Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy
Program 2 – Piano: Vladimir Ashkenazy
Program 3 – Piano: Martha Argerich

Twilight Chamber Music: Body & Soul
The Song Company
Director: Roland Peelman

Twilight Chamber Music: Dances For The Rainbow Serpent
Guitar Trek

Twilight Chamber Music: Eyes Across Skin
Violin/hurdy-gurdy/vocals/electronics: Stevie Wishart
Visuals and live projection: Joan Grounds
Sound engineer: Shane Fahey

Twilight Chamber Music: Old Masters
Macquarie Trio

Twilight Chamber Music: On A Poet's Lips
Soprano: Jane Edwards
Harp: Marshall McGuire

Twilight Chamber Music: Portraits
Tenor: David Hamilton
Piano: David Miller

Wispelwey/Britten: 3 Suites For Solo Cello
Pieter Wispelwey

Young Australia at Government House
Chamber Music From Youth Music Australia's National Music Camp

Bach 6 x 6
Six virtuosi play the six suites for unaccompanied cello by Johann Sebastian Bach
Program 1: Michael Goldschlager, Cameron Retchford, Julian Smiles
Program 2: Pieter Wispelwey, Nathan Waks, David Periera

Chick Corea & Gary Burton

Jazz In The Domain - Celebrating A Century Of Jazz
Port Jackson Jazz Band, Graeme Bell, Bob Barnard, Jim Cullen, Geoff Bull, Lee Gunness, Jim McLeod, Brad Child Band, Janet Seidel, Hi 5 vocal group, Nolan Buddle Quartet, Ten Part Invention

Koyaanisqatsi Live: Philip Glass
Philip Glass with The Philip Glass Ensemble

Symphony In The Domain: A World Of Music
Compositions From America, Argentina, Australia, Russia
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Andrea Lam (piano)

Taikoz with Eitetsu Hayashi

Tango Sinfonico
Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Young Australia at Government House
Soprano: Natalie Christie
Baritone: Angus Wood
Piano: Sharolyn Kimmorley

Young Australia at Government House
Trio 3.0.3

Bacardi Festival de Cuba
Conjunto Céspedes, Ozomatli, All Star Cubano Band

OPERA

Elektra
Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Staatsoper Unter Den Linden Berlin

THEATRE

Flight
Strange Fruit

Keene/Taylor Theatre Project
Daniel Keene, Ariette Taylor