When George Met Arnold combines a newly created film with live performance to tell the story of the remarkable relationship between two of the greatest composers of the 20th Century.
These two geniuses of the 20th century struck up an unlikely friendship, playing tennis together every week, discussing music, art, love and the political situation in Europe.
When George Met Arnold is a unique event which combines a newly created film with live performance of selected works by both composers to tell the story of this remarkable relationship. The Sydney Symphony is joined by co-creators pianist Simon Tedeschi and conductor Roger Benedict.
2024 is the 150th anniversary of Schoenberg's birth and also the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue –the perfect moment to present this poignant story of memory, trauma, friendship, humour and hope, and above all the power of music.
Run time
This performance will run for approximately 2 hours, including interval.
Programme
Featuring works by GERSHWIN and SCHOENBERG, including excerpts from Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F and Porgy & Bess, and Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto, Pelléas and Mélisande and Five Pieces for Orchestra.
Concert Hall
One of the world’s most sought after venues, the Concert Hall is a performance space like no other. With its cathedral like ambience and unrivalled majesty, standing on this very special stage will see you deliver a performance to remember.
In July 2022, the Opera House completed extensive upgrades to the Concert Hall. The multi-million-dollar project delivered extensive improvements to the venue, including: better acoustics for artists and audiences, enhanced access for people with mobility needs, new state-of-the-art theatre machinery and staging systems, and a more flexible and safer working environment for staff behind-the-scenes.
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. Please remember to maintain physical distancing whilst consuming drinks in our foyers.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram 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). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer consistent with COVID-safe rules.