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Gurrumul: His life and music
by André Souza Image: Adrian Cook
V
ivid LIVE will present Gurrumul as you have never seen him before. In a worldfirst collaboration, one of the nation’s most extraordinary artists will appear on stage, rearranging and performing the hits from his ARIA Awardwinning, multi-platinum albums in a breathtaking orchestral collaboration with the Sydney Symphony. Timed to coincide with the publication of his book Gurrumul: His Life and Music, these two evenings will present the musician onstage in a breathtaking new realisation of live performance, narration, imagery and film. This Concert Hall spectacle will guide audiences through the masterful songwriter’s life premiering rare footage and never-
before-seen photography from his Yolngu upbringing right through to his international success. Having already melted hearts across the world and armed with a legion of fans that includes Elton John, Björk and Sting, Vivid LIVE has now set the stage for audiences to delve deeper into Gurrumul’s music and spirit in an exhilarating new way. Blind from birth, Gurrumul is a member of the Gumatj clan of Elcho Island, off the coast of ropical North East Arnhem Land. He quickly became known for singing about identity, spirit and connection with the land, its elements and his ancestors. He first came to attention when he released his eponymous debut album in 2008, to international acclaim. It sold half a million copies worldwide, reaching triple platinum in Australia earning him fans as
diverse and well-known as Elton John, will.i.am and Sting. He has performed for Queen Elizabeth II, President Barack Obama, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark and was one of only three Australian performers at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, confirming his place as an international star capable of transcending cultural boundaries. Presented in association with Chugg Entertainment. SEASON DETAILS WHAT: The Gurrumul Project WHEN: Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 May, 8pm WHERE: Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall TICKETS: From $69 -Tickets go on sale from Wednesday 27 March BOOKINGS: www. sydneyoperahouse.com/vividlive or 02 9250 7777 Page 1