Symphony in the Domain
Encyclopedia
Open air concert
An open air concert is a concert taking place outside a hall in the open air.-Overview:Open air concerts can range from small, acousitic gatherings taking place at a municipal park, to large multi-day music festivals, involving some of the most famous music acts in the world...
s that are held in The Domain, Sydney
The Domain, Sydney
The Domain is 34 hectares of open space in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Sydney central business district, near Woolloomooloo. The Domain adjoins the Royal Botanic Gardens and is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust, a division of the New South...
- Summer Sounds and Symphony, as part of Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
, and Mazda Opera in The Domain. Symphony in The Domain is traditionally held on the third Saturday evening of January, performed by the Sydney Symphony. In 2007, the event celebrated its 25th anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
, with a record crowd of 85 000 people.
It is preceded by Summer Sounds in The Domain (formally Jazz in The Domain) the previous Saturday, and followed by Mazda Opera in The Domain. All the concerts are free.
Symphony in The Domain presents a wide variety of classical music, most often including contemporary classical music by Australian composers.
The event is enormously popular with both locals and tourists, and has become a much loved and celebrated part of Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
, as well as Sydney summer culture in general. Families especially make a night of it, many arriving with blankets and picnic banquets, making for a very relaxed atmosphere. As with all the Domain concerts, Symphony in The Domain has a performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
time of two and a half hours, although entertainment is provided for people who arrive early to secure vantage areas closer to the main stage. Keen classical music lovers have been known to camp overnight to mark their spots on the massive lawns of The Domain.
On some years, crowds are welcomed to the event by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, and the Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of NSW. The concert always traditionally ends with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
1812 Overture
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture or the Overture of 1812 is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of...
, with the finale complemented by cannons, a fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display above The Domain, and with the bells of St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
tolling in the background.