Artistic

In summer, Sydney’s arts and culture landscape is at its vibrant best, combining world-class exhibitions, blockbuster entertainment and a thriving underground scene. The city's stunning natural surroundings inspire creativity and the streets, parks and coastlines become both canvas and stage, where local and international talent puts on a dazzling, non-stop show. You'll find art and culture in galleries, cafes, theatres and the great outdoors – and now also in the city's hip new art hotel.

Blockbuster music

Song, dance and Broadway magic fill Sydney's long summer nights.

Award-winning musical Legally Blonde is playing at The Lyric Theatre with a star-studded Australian cast directed by the Broadway production's Jerry Mitchell; and in March, Broadway smash hit The Addams Family brings its wacky, witty charm to the Capitol Theatre .

In the meantime make sure you catch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , the Australian premiere production of the all-time favourite, opening at The Capitol on 16 November for a limited season. The famous flying car is part of a spectacular set and special effects. The same theatre is also preparing for the exciting return of majestic musical The Lion King in December 2013 (dates to be confirmed).

Sydney will rock for a whole five days during the first ever ARIA Week , from 25-29 November. This celebration of Australian music culminates in the annual ARIA Awards at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, when the country's best artists are recognised at the biggest event on the music calendar. In the preceding days, a packed, citywide calendar of gigs, events and parties will showcase the breadth of Aussie popular music and its talent. Among the big local names appearing that week are , Timomatic and Tom Piper.

Unforgettable art

Monumental modern sculpture and precious ancient treasures adorn Sydney's summer arts landscape.

Sculpture by the Sea , the world's largest annual free outdoor sculpture exhibition, celebrates its 16th year this summer. One of Sydney's most loved events, the outdoor sculpture exhibition will decorate the stunning Bondi to Tamarama coast walk from 18 October to 4 November 2012 with over 100 new works from Australian and international artists; including Lou Lambert from WA, Peter Lundberg from the USA, Icelandic artist Steinunn Thorarinsdottir and Chinese artist Sui Jian Guo.

Every summer, the Sydney International Art Series brings the world's best art exhibitions to Sydney. The upcoming Series offers an outstanding double bill, presented by the city's two finest art museums. Art Gallery NSW will host Francis Bacon: Five Decades (17 November 2012 – 24 February 2013), an unprecedented collection of the post-war master's rare works gathered from around the globe. The Museum of Contemporary Art's Anish Kapoor (20 December 2012 – 1 April 2013) will showcase this celebrated sculptor's epic public works over two floors in the most in-depth selection of his work yet seen in .

The presents it’s most exciting and prestigious classical exhibition yet: Alexander the Great: 2000 Years of Treasures . The largest exhibition ever seen in Australia from Russia's State Hermitage, this array of more than 400 treasures spanning 2500 years will be exclusive to Sydney at the museum from 24 November.

And for more art on a grand scale, see Marco Fusinato’s The Color of the Sky Has Melted from 1 November to 9 December at Artspace . The Woolloomooloo galleries have been specially adjusted to accommodate this solo exhibition of towering works incorporating light and sound. Visitors will be met with a giant wall at the gallery entrance that will lead to Fusinato’s dramatic Aetheric Plexus , a huge sound-and-lighting rig that blasts 13,000 watts of white light and 105 decibels of white noise.

The cream of classical music

Summer and exquisite music go hand in hand as the great classics come to town.

The Paris Opera Ballet , widely regarded as the world's greatest ballet company, returns to Sydney at the Capitol Theatre in summer 2013 with an exclusive Sydney season of Giselle , one of the best- loved classics. Giselle , from 29 January to 9 February, is the quintessential romantic ballet and this production, with historic sets and costumes by Alexandre Benois, one of the original designers for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, is critically acclaimed as the truest version of the masterpiece. An iconic ballet performed by a magnificent company makes for an experience not to be missed.

A breathtaking new production of Verdi's A Masked Ball by La Fura dels Baus with an international cast has its world premiere at from Wednesday 16 January. Innovative director Alex Ollé and designers Alfons Flores and Lluc Castells have created a visually stunning, groundbreaking spectacle and the international collaboration is a first for Opera Australia ahead of seasons in Brussels, Oslo and Buenos Aires. The acclaimed soprano Tamar Iveri and rising Mexican tenor Diego Torre make their Australian debuts and the opera is conducted by the Italian composer and conductor Andrea Molino.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra's compelling 2013 season includes Russian Visions , an all- Russian concert featuring works by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky, with artistic director on lead violin, David Elton on trumpet and visiting star British concert pianist Steven Osborne. Dates: November 17, 20, 21 and 25 at City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

The ACO also joins Sydney Dance Company at Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay, from 29 October to 3 November in an exciting collaboration between their artistic directors Richard Tognetti and Rafael Bonachella: Project Rameau , featuring the great ballet music of Rameau. These two dynamic musical companies combined will be a spectacle not to be missed.

On 6,8 and 9 February the legendary Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at Sydney Opera House as they play Sibelius in Legends by the Sea . It's one of three visits he'll make to conduct the orchestra in 2013.

An unforgettable opera experience unique to Sydney will return for its second year in 2013. Handa Opera on the Harbour , from 22 March to 16 April, will perform a new production of Carmen on a floating stage against the stunning backdrop of Sydney's outdoors and its famous landmarks.

Power players

This summer the curtain rises on a dazzling cast of actors, writers and directors in Sydney's theatres.

Sydney Theatre Company will stage 16 productions in its 2013 season at The Wharf on Sydney's harbour and nearby Sydney Theatre, under the leadership of creative directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. This summer, STC brings Kate Grenville's Booker prize-winning novel The Secret River to the stage for the first time, from 8 January to 9 February. Directed by , written by Andrew Bovell ( When the Rain Stops Falling ) and starring Jeremy Sims and Trevor Jamieson. This ambitious play dramatises the story of two families divided by culture and land during the time of Australia's first European settlers.

Delight in George Bernard Shaw's rapier dialogue in the STC's new production of Mrs Warren's Profession , from 14 February to 6 April, starring Australian favourite Helen Thomson.

Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills has welcomed some of Australia's finest theatre talent to its two stages, and an impressive 2013 season includes Tennessee Williams' classic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof from 16 February to 7 April. Starring Jacqueline Mackenzie and and directed by Simon Stone, it's set to be a standout production.

Glen Street Theatre , on Sydney's Northern Beaches, has a brand new play from , one of Australia's most acclaimed playwrights. His Managing Carmen , from 30 January to 9 February is a smart, boisterous comedy about football, gender politics and identity.

Another highly anticipated Sydney theatre event is the arrival of the five-time Tony Award and two- time Olivier Award winning play War Horse at the Lyric Theatre , where it will play with an all- Australian cast from 23 March to 30 June.

And at , Sydney's major hub for groundbreaking art, performance and creative endeavour, there's plenty to challenge and inspire. Encoded , from 28 November to 1 December, is an aerial dance and installation performance using the latest digital technologies to enhance human movement and create a spellbinding experience. Something In The Way She Moves , 14-17 November, is a solo performance from Julie-Ann Long combining dance and theatre to create an extraordinary portrait of an 'ordinary' woman.

A fiesta of festivals

Islands, parks, the harbour, beachfront and city streets all become destinations for culture this summer.

In January it's time for Sydney's biggest, boldest cultural celebration: Sydney Festival . Every year, top performers and artists from all over the world converge on the city and transform it into a diverse, thrilling stage where you can see big names and great shows around the clock. The program comprises around 300 performances and 100 events performed by over 1,000 artists in at least 20 venues.

From 5-27 January, must-sees will include Semele Walk , an extraordinary blend of Handel opera, Vivienne Westwood costumes, the Berlin ensemble Kaleidoskop and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs; David Byrne and St Vincent, the talked about new stage show from Talking Heads' David Byrne and Annie Clarke; and Circocolumbia's white-knuckle acrobatic and musical sensation, Urban.

Tropfest , on Sunday 17 February, is one of the world's foremost short film festivals. Created by actor and director John Polson 21 years ago and with a past roster of judges including Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor and , the annual competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter – regardless of background or experience.

Sixteen finalists are selected from an entry pool of an average 700 and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes. Tropfest films have all been made specifically for Tropfest, premiere at Tropfest and include the Tropfest Signature Item (or TSI), which changes each year. The TSI for the 2013 festival is 'balloon.'

Lovers of short film should also head to the 22nd annual Flickerfest , an international short film festival and Australia's largest short film competition, which takes place outdoors on the Bondi beachfront from 11-20 January. It's a showcase for short filmmaking excellence from around the world – all under the stars by the famous beach.

The vibrant, arts-loving suburb of comes alive with global sights and sounds from 8-11 November during Parramasala , the Australian Festival of South Asian Arts. See music, dance, theatre, film, visual arts and comedy from an array of countries and a South Asian marketplace offering fashion, arts, crafts and food.

On December 8 the Domain at the Royal Botanic Garden fills with five stages and a cinema for the Music, Film, Comedy & Arts Festival 2012 . Rock legends Blondie will headline a stellar line-up also featuring Tim Minchin, and .

March in Sydney is an essential month for lovers of contemporary art: it's when Art Month turns the city into a giant canvas for exciting work from Australia and beyond. The third annual festival runs from 1 – 25 March 2012 and celebrates on the largest scale yet the diversity of visual art in Sydney, bringing together more than 100 commercial and public galleries, with over 200 exhibitions and events including talks, tours, performances, art bars and late night gallery openings.

The Bondi Short Film Festival , on November 25 at Bondi Pavilion, is one the finest short film festivals in Australia, and provides a vivid glimpse of the country's film making talent. The Festival, with 100 percent Australian content, showcases entries to a sell-out crowd and a judging panel of heavy hitters from the film industry (previous judges have included Bruce Beresford, Sam Worthington and Brendan Cowell). With more than 3,000 quality entries over its twelve years, the Festival has earned cult status in the independent film industry.

QT: art, theatre and flair at Sydney's new boutique hotel

Sydney now boasts QT Sydney , the city's only hotel to be a member of the exclusive worldwide group, Design Hotels. Created as a celebration of art, design, fashion, music and food, QT occupies the beautiful heritage Gowings and buildings. The gothic, palazzo-style structures have been restored and transformed into a luxury playground filled with strong colour, bespoke furniture, contemporary art and quirky artefacts telling stories about the two buildings' past. It's a dynamic, playful take on heritage, designed to appeal to creative spirits.

QT has its own curator, Amanda Love , who has gathering intriguing artworks to suit this unique space. Among her picks are a huge Grant Stevens-designed video installation at the entrance to the hotel's restaurant, Gowings Bar and Grill, digital LED dot art from Aboriginal artist Daniel Boyd in the lifts and Swedish artist Michael Johnsson's striking lobby installation made from found objects, around thirty percent of which – old suitcases, televisions, lockers, desks and retro signage – was sourced from the site and the rest from Sydney. Fabio Ongarato’s graphics feature on folding screens, behind bronze mesh panels and on the ceilings.

Interior designers Nic Graham (public areas) and Shelley Indyk (rooms) have lavished the spaces with a bold palette of black and white, Yves Klein blue, magenta and citron, complementing the extensive digital art. Graham also designed the lobby's silver twin chaise lounge.

The exterior is also a visual treat; the original Gowings sign has been re-erected, along with meticulous replicas of the building's original stone gargoyles.

With flamboyant staff costumes by designer Janet Hine and an upcoming Public Area Art Collection where guests and the general public are welcome to explore, QT is a must-visit art space as well as glamorous retreat.

Follow the Chippendale gallery trail

Sydney is dotted with thriving creative precincts and Chippendale is one of the fastest-evolving – a mecca for art, design, photography and crafts. Its historic warehouses and factories are reborn as art galleries, furniture showrooms and design studios, interspersed with imaginative cafes and tearooms for refreshment as you explore the gallery trail.

The area's gems include NG Art Gallery, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, Carriageworks, MOP, UTS:Gallery - which showcases the work of graduates, staff, students and guest artists at the University of Technology Sydney – and the Neilson family's lavish White Rabbit Gallery , which is now poised to become the world's largest private collection of Chinese contemporary art. The gallery already houses the work of more than 200 Chinese artists and in 2014, when the only larger existing private collection is donated to a museum, White Rabbit's will be the biggest. The gallery, with a Chinese Tea House, library and regular talks and events, is a delightful hub for art lovers and even has events for children aged four-10 on the first Saturday of each month.

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Media information: Elissa Tyrrell A/Executive Manager, Media & Public Relations Destination NSW [email protected] +61 2 9931 1426