28'<strong>Sydney</strong> TheatreCompany’s <strong>2011</strong>Main Stage Seasonopened with theAustralian premiereproduction of SarahRuhl’s Broadway hit,In The Next Room,or the vibrator play.'Images from left to right ><strong>Sydney</strong> Theatre Company - In The Next Room, or the vibrator play; <strong>Sydney</strong> Symphony - Double Basses; <strong>Opera</strong> Australia - Carmen
29presented in July <strong>2011</strong>. World premieresincluded James Ledger’s Outposts –Bassoon Concerto, and Matthew Hindson’sjoyous Concerto for two pianos.<strong>Sydney</strong> Symphony’s two-year Mahlercycle continued with over 38,000 peopleattending 17 performances throughoutthe year. Performances in 2010 includedMahler’s Symphony No. 4 and SymphonyNo. 3, featuring mezzo-soprano LilliPaasikivi. In <strong>2011</strong> the program presentedSymphonies No. 6, 7, 9 and 10, featuringesteemed pianists Steven Osborne andJean-Efflam Bavouzet.Renowned conductor and recording artistKristjan Järvi was welcomed to theConcert Hall stage to conduct Gershwin’sclassic Rhapsody in Blue in October2010. Two performances attracted anaudience of 5,140. Celebrated violinistMidori returned this year in MidoriPlays Classics, conducted by AntonelloManacorda in his debut appearance withthe <strong>Sydney</strong> Symphony. Two performancesof this enthralling production were enjoyedby 3,907 people. The 2010 season closedwith Tchaikovsky Spectacular, featuringacclaimed Canadian violinist James Ehnesperforming Tchaikovsky’s most lovedworks. Three performances enthralledan audience of 7,662.Making his debut with the <strong>Sydney</strong>Symphony in February <strong>2011</strong>, youngAustralian violinist Ray Chen gave anelegant performance of Brahm’s ViolinConcerto to an audience of 9,268 over fournights. Comedy rock star Tim Minchincollaborated with the <strong>Sydney</strong> Symphonyin March <strong>2011</strong>, presenting a program ofnew songs and Minchin classics. Fourperformances were presented to anenthusiastic audience of 10,261.International musical sensation Lang Langbrought audiences to their feet with aseries of performances and a public masterclass in June <strong>2011</strong>. Performing works byRachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Prokofievand Beethoven, Lang Lang’s vibrant andvirtuosic performances drew an audienceof 11,839 over five performances.In May <strong>2011</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> Symphony announcedthe extension of Vladimir Ashkenazy’scontract as Principal Conductor andArtistic Advisor, continuing the maestro’ssuccessful leadership to the end of2013. This extension will enable <strong>Sydney</strong>Symphony to maintain its focus onincreasing recording activity, internationaltouring and hosting the world’s bestperformers and conductors.The Australian Ballet >7 presentations, 93 performances,117,496 audiencesThe romantic triple bill Edge of Nightopened in November 2010, showcasingthe best in Australian choreographictalent. Resident Choreographer StephenBaynes’ bittersweet At the edge of nightand Molto Vivace were accompanied by theworld premiere of Tim Harbour’s Halcyon.Marking Harbour’s exciting transitionfrom dancer to accomplished choreographer,Halcyon was an exploration of Greekmythology presented by an all-Australiancreative team and with a speciallycommissioned score. 20 performancesattracted an audience of 25,769.Concluding the 2010 season, PeterWright’s The Nutcracker brought thetradition and splendour of this Christmasfavourite to the <strong>Opera</strong> Theatre stage.The technical brilliance and spirit of thecompany delighted both critics and patronsalike, attracting rave reviews and playingto sold-out audiences. 23 performancesattracted an audience of 33,014.After a 13-year absence and extensiveoverseas touring, Stanton Welch’s MadameButterfly made a much-anticipated returnin April <strong>2011</strong>. 31,590 people attended22 performances of this sophisticatedand poignant production. In May <strong>2011</strong>British Liaisons celebrated three Britishchoreographers, presenting Dame Ninettede Valois’s Checkmate, ChristopherWheeldon’s After the Rain and Sir KennethMcMillan’s Concerto. 22 performances wereattended by 24,482 people.As The Australian Ballet counts downto their 50th Anniversary in 2012,programming continues to focus onpresenting company ballets which havemade their mark on the world stage aswell as classics and new works.<strong>Sydney</strong> Theatre Company >4 presentations, 183 performances,80,186 audiencesThroughout September and October 2010,<strong>Sydney</strong> Theatre Company presented anew production of Thornton Wilder’sAmerican classic, Our Town. Directed byIain Sinclair in his Main Stage debut,this heart-warming production featured a15-strong ensemble cast that performed tocritical acclaim. 50 performances attractedan audience of 23,266.The success of Our Town was followedwith Melbourne Theatre Company’sproduction of the new Australian play,The Grenade. Written by Tony McNamaraand directed by Peter Evans, TheGrenade featured a cast of six led bylegend of Australian stage and screen,Garry McDonald. 42 performances of thishilarious whodunit were presented to anaudience of 17,334.<strong>Sydney</strong> Theatre Company’s <strong>2011</strong> MainStage Season opened with the Australianpremiere production of Sarah Ruhl’sBroadway hit, In The Next Room, or thevibrator play. Directed by Pamela Rabeand featuring Jacqueline McKenzie, thisTony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominatedplay attracted an audience of 27,243 peopleover 59 performances before embarking onan extensive tour.In June <strong>2011</strong>, <strong>Sydney</strong> Theatre Companypresented Ireland’s Abbey Theatre withtheir acclaimed production of MarkO’Rowe’s Terminus. In its final stop in aworld tour, this award-winning productionshowcased the Irish storytelling traditionin an intense and thrilling night oftheatre. 32 performances attracted anaudience of 12,343 with the seasoncontinuing into 2010/11.Bell Shakespeare >4 presentations, 116 performances,44,784 audiencesIn 2010, Bell Shakespeare brought theBard’s masterful comedy of mistakenidentity Twelfth Night to the stage.Carefully directed by Lee Lewis andbrilliantly performed by Max Cullen andAndrea Demetriades, 38 presentationsdrew an audience of 13,015.Set against a backdrop of 1950’s Sicily,John Bell’s exuberant production of MuchAdo About Nothing opened in April <strong>2011</strong>.A strong ensemble cast including BlazeyBest, Max Gillies and Toby Schmitzbrought this charming story to the stage.18,427 people enjoyed 40 performances.Taking a departure from Shakespeare,Faustus presented a re-working ofChristopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus incollaboration with Queensland TheatreCompany. Michael Gow directed JohnBell and Ben Winspear in a bold andsophisticated tale of moral ambiguity.The opening night performance attractedan audience of 380 as the season continuesinto <strong>2011</strong>/12.
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