Portrait of Rufus Wainwright resting against his arm.

Rufus Wainwright’s Want Symphonic

  • Classical Music
  • Sydney Symphony Orchestra
  • Concert Hall
  • Seating map

Want Symphonic sees a selection of songs from Rufus Wainwright’s beloved Want One and Want Two albums translated into new lush symphonic arrangements for a performance alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Praised as ‘the greatest songwriter on the planet,’ by Elton John, and ‘simply one of the great writers’ by David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright’s Want One and Want Two were among the great albums of the early 2000s.

Want Symphonic sees a selection of songs from those albums translated into new lush symphonic arrangements by Sally Herbert (Woodkid, Florence + the Machine) and Max Moston (Anohni and the Johnsons), brought to stunning life by the ‘velvety truffle of Wainwright’s voice’ (London Times) and a 60-person orchestra in a performance of ‘breathtaking and eccentric opulence’ (Rolling Stone).

Heard at The Proms and performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony, among others, now it’s Sydney’s turn to luxuriate in Wainwright’s glorious sonic universe.

Presented by Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Event details

the greatest songwriter on the planet

Elton John

PROGRAM 

Rufus WAINWRIGHT

Selections from Want Symphonic 
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

ARTISTS 

Benjamin Northey Conductor
Rufus Wainwright Voice, Piano
Matthew Johnson Drums 

Attending this event

Practical information about this event, ticketing and visiting. If you have questions or need help, see our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact us.

Ticket information

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Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Concert Hall

The Concert Hall is located beneath the largest of Sydney Opera House’s roof sails, filling the upper levels of the west side of the building. Best accessed through the covered concourse. 

All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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