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Devonté Hynes Selected Classical Works with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

2 June 2023

In the Concert Hall

Contemporary Music

Unfortunately Devonté Hynes with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance will not proceed as scheduled. Due to the recent passing of his mother, Devonté has decided to postpone his Australian visit. Our thoughts and condolences are with Devonté and his family at this sad time. We are working to reschedule the event for 2024 and we will keep you updated. All ticketholders have been notified.

A note from Devonté Hynes:

“Hi, so after a lot of thought, I have decided that in addition to last week's performance in Toronto, I am not able to play the upcoming classical shows scheduled in Vienna, Sydney and Washington DC due to a recent loss in my family. I will be honest and say that I am not able to be onstage right now, and will take this time to grieve and focus on getting myself together. I am so sorry to all those who had bought tickets and made travel arrangements, your support means a lot to me and I deeply apologise. We are working on finding dates to reschedule where possible, all ticket holders will be emailed refund information in the meantime. Please visit individual event pages for additional details.

Thank you.”

We apologise for any disappointment and thank you very much for your kind understanding and ongoing support for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact our box office team on (02) 9250 7777.

The polymath musician is a whole new model of artist, daubing his signature sensibility over music, film, dance and everything else he touches.

The New York Times

A pop savant leads the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in his Vivid LIVE debut

A singer, songwriter and producer with a gift for moving between R&B, indie and experimental jazz, Devonté Hynes has helped shaped the vanguard pop of an era, collaborating with a roster of artists that includes Solange, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kylie Minogue, Sky Ferreira, FKA Twigs, A$AP Rocky, Haim, Florence and the Machine and Mariah Carey – to name just a few.

As Blood Orange, the London-born artist released four acclaimed full-lengths, including Cupid Deluxe (2013), Freetown Sound (2016), and Negro Swan (2018), combining his love of classic ’80s funk, electro soul, hip-hop, West African pop and chilled-out R&B to sublime effect. In between, the classically-trained musician composed soundtracks for films by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) , Rebecca Hall (Passing) and Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), performed alongside the legendary Philip Glass, and wowed critics and audiences with Fields (2019) his future-facing, Grammy-nominated foray into classical music.

Returning to Australia for the first time in more than a decade, Hynes makes his long-awaited Vivid LIVE debut in the Concert Hall, where he’ll be joined by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing with existential sensitivity. Hynes’ music explores the complexities and ambiguities of 21st century identity, delving into memory, trauma, depression and anxiety, as well as the triumphs of vulnerable communities, including people of colour and the queer and trans communities, and where they intersect.

Don’t sleep on this chance to see one of the millennium’s most captivating and original performers, taking to the stage for one night only.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Program

Naked Blue
Symphony for full orchestra
20 minutes

*Intermission / changeover*

The Long Ride II 
for 2 pianos
7 minutes (Devonté Hynes and Adam Tendler)

Morning Piece
for 2 pianos
7 minutes (Devonté Hynes and Adam Tendler)

Untitled III 
7 minutes (Devonté Hynes, solo piano)

*second piano struck, orchestra re-enters*

Happenings
Concerto for piano with full orchestra
20 minutes (soloist Adam Tendler)

Other information

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