Dvorak's New World Symphony: Explorations in Sound at Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall

Dvo?ák went to New York to help American composers find a distinctive voice of their own. Meanwhile, he felt homesick for his native Bohemia and these twin inspirations have given generations of music-lovers one of the most heartfelt and expressive symphonies ever written – a classical chart-topper.

Britten stayed closed to home with his gut-wrenching opera Peter Grimes, set in a fishing village on the English coast. The four scene-changing interludes evoke the dignity of sunrise, the festive optimism of Sunday morning church bells, the loneliness of a moonlit sea, and a ruthless storm.

And for something really new, we’ve commissioned a pipa concerto from Zhao Jiping, the composer of Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell, My Concubine. The soloist is Wu Man, who has wowed Western audiences with her spontaneous and virtuosic performances.

BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
ZHAO JIPING Pipa Concerto PREMIERE
DVO?ÁK Symphony No.9, New World