Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
As another scorching Sydney summer comes to an end, we've picked our top reasons why you won't want to miss out on discovering all our city has to offer this autumn.
Opera for everyone
Be swept away to 19th century Paris with a lavish production of the classic La Traviata at Sydney Opera House. Don’t be intimidated if you’re an opera first-timer – Verdi’s hummable tunes, the passionate duets and exquisite costumes will quickly draw you in. Out on the harbour, Handa Opera is constructing a pop up stage to showcase a vibrant production of Bizet’s Spanish masterpiece Carmen. The fiery dance numbers and captivating rhythms are performed in front of Sydney’s glittering skyline and topped off with a burst of fireworks.
La vie est belle
Cinema is France’s ode to dreams and creativity. So says Philippe Platel, artistic director of the Alliance Française French Film Festival, to be held in Sydney in March. The 45 films on offer will take you around the world, back in time, and inspire you to dance, sing, laugh, cry and fall in love. Don’t miss The Odyssey, a dazzling biopic of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau; the classic ensemble comedy Just To Be Sure; and The Dancer, telling the remarkable story of Loie Fuller and Isadora Duncan, pioneers of modern dance and theatre in Paris.
A tale as old as time
Just over 25 years ago, Disney released the animated version of Beauty and the Beast, and it became an instant classic. Fast forward to today and there’s a new live-action adaptation, starring Emma Watson. It’s creepy and gothic and decidedly more grown up than the original, but counters this with a dreamy musical score and stellar performances. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth will be celebrating the much anticipated release with a number of beautifully themed activations and offers from March until June.
Shakespeare with a twist
It’s a role famously played by Laurence Olivier, Ian McKellen, Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Spacey, and now you can see Bell Shakespeare’s Kate Mulvany put her own stamp on Richard III. The cold-blooded hunchback is one of literature’s most fascinating characters and this ambitious new production, directed by Bell’s artistic director Peter Evans, will make for a thrilling night at the theatre.
Hit the lights
Sydney sparkles at any time of year, but in autumn the lights are especially bright. Vivid takes over the city from May 26 to June 17 with incredible large-scale light installations spreading from Chatswood through Taronga Zoo, across the harbour and into the Rocks and Botanic Gardens. Explore the city on foot or hop on a boat to get an unmatched view from the harbour.
Andy’s early days
Before he was one of the 20th century’s most iconic artists, Andy Warhol was a commercial illustrator working for advertising agencies in 1950s New York. A new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW displays some of his early prints, drawings and shop window displays, created more than a decade before he started on Campbell’s soup cans. Adman: Warhol before pop includes more than 300 pieces, many on display for the first time, giving a fascinating insight into the mind of a legend.
Discover all that this wonderful city has to offer while enjoying the comfort and luxury accommodation at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.