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Contemporary Music

Nooks & Crannies: Hiatus Kaiyote
Watch Melbourne future-soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote jam in the Drama Theatre in our Nooks & Crannies series, a collaboration between the Sydney Opera House and Intel.

Wu-Tang Clan’s in the House
The legendary Wu-Tang Clan took over the Opera House this December, bringing their opus 36 Chambers “from the slums of Shaolin” to the Concert Hall for four nights of pure mayhem.

Eavesdropping on Nils Frahm
New Voices Incubator recipient Cynthia Loh reflects on Nils Frahm's extravagant yet intimate ode to the harbourside city: Music for Sydney.

Live sessions: The National in the Utzon Room
Watch them perform two gorgeous 'Sleep Well Beast' cuts before they stepped out onto the Forecourt.

Solange’s sculptural performance art
Six shows where the artist collided music with movement and space.

Writing hits with Future Classic
Chad Gillard, Future Classic co-founder, talks about the label’s relationship to the Opera House, how they pair the right musicians together, and how they massage a song into a hit.

Father & Son: Marcel & Rami Khalifé
Composer, oud master and performer, Marcel Khalifé, shares a special bond with his son, piano virtuoso Rami Khalifé. Discover the father-son relationship behind the incredible musical duo.

Margaret Leng Tan toys with the limits of theatre
Experimental piano pioneer Margaret Leng Tan has made her theatre debut – at the age of 74

A Soft Future is a bright one
Soft Future Piano Bar is a zero-waste purple paradise in our Concert Hall Northern Foyer. We spoke to Goodgod creative masterminds Hana Shimada and Jimmy Sing about how the bar differs from others in Sydney.

An extended interview with the legendary Andrew Weatherall
Watch an uncut interview from 2017 between Ben Marshall and the British DJ behind Primal Scream, Andrew Weatherall. Plus hear Ben's reflection on the passing of a man who changed dance music.

How two rock stars are discovering the ‘sonic fabric’ of movies
The unconventional technique and unbelievable sounds of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, a duo whose film music is becoming as renowned as their solo works.

Skepta wants grime to be a revolution
The MC proves there’s more to his scene.

Jack Johnson is making concerts recyclable
Tour manager Max Tischler on how he makes world tours eco-friendly.

Sampha: “Making music can be a vulnerable space”
Singer and producer Sampha Sisay on his debut LP and upcoming performance at Vivid LIVE.

Coming together for a moment that matters
Global music event One World: Together at Home celebrated healthcare workers on the pandemic’s frontline

Bathe in the ambient sounds of Jónsi and Alex Somers to soothe you during isolation
This Saturday, watch the full never before released Riceboy Sleeps performance from Vivid LIVE 2019

Celebrate i,i with new footage from Bon Iver’s CERCLE
Relive Bon Iver's incredible Opera House performance with uncovered live footage and new words from Justin Vernon himself, and go into the running to win all four Bon Iver albums on vinyl.

These Chinese-Australian artists are bringing the “romantic doom” of Wong Kar-Wai to the Opera House stage
Learn how Sydney artists Rainbow Chan, Marcus Whale and Eugene Choi are transforming 'In the Mood for Love', one of the most critically acclaimed films of the 21st century, into a sax-drenched, theatrical journey through 60s Hong Kong.

From clubs to the Concert Hall
From New Order to Four Tet, Vivid LIVE's Ben Marshall on expanding his horizons in London's electronic music scene.

Astral-ology
We're looking to the cosmos to dissect the star-studded Astral People line up performing under the night sky at this year's Vivid LIVE.

My love letter to... The Flaming Lips
In the latest Love Letters, Sydney producer Jonti lauds the "endless inspiration" of Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lips. And, as a bonus, Jonti's put together a psychedelic vinyl mix featuring tracks from The Flaming Lips and a handful of other "fearless freaks".

Death Cab forever
Coming of age with Death Cab for Cutie: reminiscing on the friendships, memories and mixtapes.

Through time and space: A brief history of sampling
There are many more layers to a track by The Avalanches and DJ Shadow than meets the ear.

What is today’s Great American Songbook?
Michael Feinstein revives songs that have stood the test of time

Seconds to Stage
A new video series which records an artist's final moments just before showtime at the Sydney Opera House

Trance and the tombak
Mohammad Reza Mortazavi plays Persian instruments on the fringe of electronics

Herbie Hancock plays jazz for a more peaceful world
And watch a masterclass with the living legend at the Sydney Opera House

Cheat sheet: Paul Kelly
More than just our country’s greatest singer-songwriter or “Australia’s Bob Dylan”, Paul Kelly is a national treasure.

10 albums that have defined Repressed Records
The most memorable records from the Newtown vinyl institution.

Australia’s punk poet: Paul Kelly
Dapper as usual in a brown suit and open necked shirt, slightly stooped but hawkeyed, Paul Kelly declines the offer of his much-loved cabernet in favour of an ale as he looks out of Bennelong Restaurant and over Sydney Harbour.

In Conversation with Beth Orton
A poet’s feel for lyrics, an actress’ instinct for delivery – and that voice. In conversation with the rapturous Beth Orton.

Art with a view: The Forecourt
From Lorde to Janet Jackson, Nelson Mandela to Spencer Tunick, Oprah and Hugh Jackman to Björk, Crowded House and Florence + the Machine. Here are some of the Sydney Opera House's greatest moments on the Forecourt.

Club Weld: How a new collaboration is empowering musicians on the autism spectrum
Some of Sydney's most prolific artists collaborated with musicians on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities to make their own music in the Opera House’s state-of-the-art Intel Broadcast Studio.

Katie Noonan pens tribute to legendary First Nations poet
Read her letter celebrating three powerful Queensland women.

A brief history of Astral People
What started as a humble artist management agency has turned into a multi-armed music juggernaut, whose parties have attracted the attention of Thom Yorke and Elton John. Andy Webb traces the humble origins of Sydney luminaries Astral People.

5 of the best Aretha Franklin Movie Moments
From epic exits to hopeful holidays, The Queen of Soul has backed up some of cinema's most iconic moments. Join us as we look back on 5 incredible Aretha Franklin tracks, and where you might have heard them in your favourite films.

Inside the Opera House’s Secret Club
Our favourite Sydney DJs, artists and regulars relive their favourite moments across the years to warm up for this year's Studio Parties.

Watch The Cure's full set at the Sydney Opera House
Almost three hours of ‘Disintegration’ (and the B-sides).

Panda Bear: “It’s easier if everything is binary...but the truth is not”
An interview between Ben Marshall and the Animal Collective co-founder.

Ziggy Ramo’s live show brings spectacle and ritual to his acclaimed Black Thoughts
Ziggy Ramo’s debut album, Black Thoughts, is regarded as “one of the most important albums of this year” - NME. Journalist Daniel Browning breaks down how Ramo transforms his powerful messages for the digital stage.

Watch the Dirty Three’s first band interview in 25 years
Following their Vivid LIVE and Dark Mofo performances, Dirty Three's Warren Ellis, Jim White and Mick Turner chat to Vivid LIVE curator Ben Marshall.

The Necks: Painting with sound
How the 'ambient jazz' masters got inside our heads at Vivid LIVE.