Morrissey announced for VIVID Live 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

Destination NSW and the Sydney Opera House today announced British popular music visionary Morrissey will perform four exclusive performances at Vivid LIVE during Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.

“An Evening With Morrissey” will take place at the Sydney Opera House on 26-27 May and 30-31 May and will be the artist’s only Australian appearances.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said, “Vivid LIVE is set to wow audiences once again with the announcement of influential indie musician, Morrissey as the first artist of this year’s program. As one of music’s most enduring figures, Morrissey is set to captivate audiences in his Sydney-exclusive performances during Vivid Sydney.”

Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, is owned and managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House forms part of the Vivid Music program and is a celebration of ambitious popular music, running from 22 May – 8 June – the first time the program has run for the duration of Vivid Sydney. Vivid LIVE is the highlight of Sydney Opera House’s year-round contemporary music programming.

Morrissey is one of popular music’s most singular and iconic figures. Variously described as an irrefutably bleak or gloriously funny songwriter, Morrissey’s romantic narratives immortalise the post-industrial recession of ‘80s era Manchester through to the current day. The crooning legend continues to create art across multiple mediums to the delight of his devoted fans, from the instant Penguin Classic Autobiography to his critically acclaimed 10th album World Peace Is None of Your Business.

With high demand expected for these Sydney-exclusive performances, tickets will be allocated through a ballot (details below).

Now in its seventh year, Vivid LIVE will be overseen by Ben Marshall, the Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music and recently appointed as the Curator of Vivid LIVE. Ben has brought the likes of The National, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Flying Lotus to the Opera House Concert Hall stage.

Ben Marshall, Curator of Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House said “I am honoured to be taking on this role after Fergus Linehan’s sensational run and cannot wait to release the full program. Vivid LIVE as part of Vivid Sydney is a wonderful opportunity to transform the Opera House inside and out – it’s the only time contemporary music is able to take over the whole House.

“I’m thrilled that the first announcement for Vivid LIVE 2015 is a Sydney-only residency by the uniquely gifted and inimitably stylish Morrissey. I have vivid teenage memories of his face all over our lever-arch files in high school. So it’s amazing to now showcase his artistry on the Concert Hall stage. These four vital, intimate concerts will be a very special occasion for all those like-minded souls who’ve been affected by Morrissey. But get in early, as these concerts will sell out.”

The full program for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House will be announced during the Vivid Sydney program launch next month.