IF you’re the type of concert-goer who loves to truly immerse yourself in music, then The Gauntlet – a highlight of the Antidote Festival at Sydney Opera House – should be your cup of tea.
The site-specific immersive choral experience by experimental New York composer Sxip Shirey will be performed by the Sydney Philharmonia Choir with choreography by dancer Coco Karol – also based in the Big Apple.
Instead of sitting down watching the choir on a stage, the audience gets to walk between lines of choristers dotted around the Joan Sutherland Theatre foyers and stairways. The lyrics of this original musical composition are inspired by interviews with some of Sydney’s leading cultural, social and environmental activists.
The thought-provoking ‘sound installation’ is typical of the boundary-pushing events, talks workshops and ‘how-to’ sessions that are part of Antidote, September 1-2.
Now in its second year, Antidote replaced the Opera House’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas and is described as a “weekend of ideas, action and change”
On the bill is Pulitzer Prize-winning lawyer and investigative reporter Ronan Farrow (son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen) who was pivotal in breaking the Harvey Weinstein.
World-famous whistle-blower Chelsea Manning will appear in conversation with award-winning foreign correspondent Peter Greste who spent 25 years working in some of the world’s most volatile places, from Afghanistan, Latin American, Africa and the Middle East. He made headlines himself when he was arrested and charged with terrorism offenses in Cairo where he spent 400 days in prison.
There will also be a free exhibition of photography by journalist, photographer and filmmaker Lalage Snow. War Gardens will be presented along the Western Broadwalk, taking viewers on a journey through Afghanistan, Gaza, The West Bank, Israel and Ukraine to explore private gardens tended to by civilians caught up in conflict and the universal search for peace.
And new to the festival this year is several “how-to” workshops where you can learn how to fillet a fish thanks to Sydney chef Josh Niland of Paddington restaurant Saint Peter or find out more about how to mindfully declutter your home, make your own eco products or even how to be an activist.
Other international highlights include:
- Richard Fidler, host of ABC Conversations, podcast chairing a session with Ta-Nehisi Coates, National Correspondent for The Atlantic, Black Panther comic book writer and author of several books on race relations in the US.
- America’s best-known female newspaper columnist Maureen Dowd in conversation with friend Julia Baird, host of ABC TV The Drum and author of Victoria: The Queen, about this astonishing era in US politics, the #metoo and the unique importance of long-term female friendships.
- British professor, environmental ambassador and author of Around the World in 80 Trees, Jonathan Drori.
- US-born jellyfish expert, marine biologist and conservationist Lisa Gershwin.
There will be four performances of The Gauntlet across 1-2 September (running time 75 mins), including one accessible performance on 2 September (running time 60 minutes). Prices from $49.
Antidote tickets available from $29. Phone (02) 9250 7777, visit sydneyoperahouse.com.au
Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
