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Under the Sails with the London Symphony Orchestra

Classical Music

Picture this: The musicians of the London Symphony Orchestra arrive at the Sydney Opera House – suits and ties to a man. The occasion seems formal. But the news camera has panned past the raw scaffolding of the shells, and in the foreground a worker is laying shimmering white tiles in their signature chevron pattern.

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Testing the Concert Hall’s acoustic reflectors

Try this experiment at home. Record a conversation on your smartphone and then play the recording back to yourself. Notice what’s different? The sound in the recording seems fuller and more textured than the real thing. It seems counter-intuitive. Nothing should beat a live performance. So why does the recording sound so different?

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Fine-tuning the acoustics of the Joan Sutherland Theatre

Imagine you’re at home, settling in with coffee and a book, and you hear the rain trickling against the window. It grows to something louder, a steady pattering. The sound of it makes you feel relaxed, a little calmer. What about the sound makes people feel calm? When you’re at the opera, you hear the orchestra pulsing from below the stage, the choir roaring on stage and the soprano delivering a beautiful song from centre stage that fills the hall. It sends shivers down your spine—but what in your brain is being triggered to make you feel this?

Article

Deadly Voices from the House

A podcast that takes intimate interviews with First Nations artists and leaders to the world. Acclaimed presenter, journalist, actor, producer and arts guru Rhoda Roberts AO presents Deadly Voices from the House, recorded live from Sydney Opera House. Featuring a diverse selection of guest appearances from prominent First Nations leaders from the music, arts and culture sector. Deadly Voices from the House provides an important platform to discuss critical issues and explore the vibrancy and diversity of contemporary culture.

Podcast

Love List: Classical & Romantic Music by Jonathan Biss

Biss is one of the world’s most sought-after pianists, a regular performer with major orchestras, concert halls and festivals around the globe and co-Artistic Director of Marlboro Music. He is a renowned teacher, writer and musical thinker who fully immerses himself in projects close to his heart.

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