Sydney Symphony Orchestra to salute David Bowie with heavyweights of the Australian music industry

Published by: Caitlin Benetatos | 29-Feb-2016
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the rich musical legacy of legendary British singer-songwriter David Bowie with Australian music industry icons at the Sydney Opera House in two concerts conducted by Benjamin Northey, announced today. #DavidBowie @sydsymph #sydneysymphony
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Date: Thursday May 19 and Saturday May 21
Time: 8pm
Web: www.sydneysymphony.com
: twitter.com/sydsymph
: www.facebook.com/sydneysymphony
David Bowie: Nothing Has Changed will see artists iOTA, Tim Rogers, Steve Kilbey, Deborah Conway, Adalita and Jack Ladder join the SSO in the Concert Hall on 19 & 21 May to perform hits from the Bowie canon personally selected by the performers.

Singer-songwriter iOTA says Bowie was the best at everything he aspired to: "Bowie had amazing depth and he didn't disappoint even to the very end," says the Sydney-based artist. "He came to the end of an amazing life with a lot of class and integrity. He's taught other artists how to be in the world and how to do it right."

David Bowie: Nothing Has Changed will feature approximately 30 songs including some of Bowie's most popular hits such as Changes, China Girl, Life on Mars, Under Pressure, Let's Dance, Starman and Under Pressure. There will also be performances of more obscure songs from Bowie's oeuvre, says the show's Creative Director Amanda Pelman.

"The most important thing to me was how Bowie's canon would be portrayed with real integrity and nuance by the orchestra and artists with a sympathetic voice to the work," says Pelman, who worked as a producer on the musical adaptation of Academy Award-winning film Priscilla Queen of the Desert. "It would be foolish to suggest we can represent the whole of Bowie's canon; the 30 songs are both the highest selling songs and some of the most quirky performances."

On 10 January 2016, the world lost an icon and artist that spanned generations when Bowie passed away aged 69 following the release of his 25th studio album, Blackstar, just two days earlier. Renowned for his originality, Bowie is remembered as not only a singer-songwriter, but as an actor and artist with a gift for theatricality and reinvention.

iOTA is an ARIA Award-nominated artist and Helpmann Award-winning actor. He is one of Australia's most enigmatic, talented and original singer-songwriters and is about to release a new album Wolf Number Nine, which he is promoting with shows across the country including at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Tim Rogers is founder, frontman, songwriter and guitarist of prolific Australian alternative rock group You Am I and has also carved out a significant career as a solo performer. Rogers is renowned for his showman ship and has during the past decade also appeared in several theatre productions including Woyzeck with Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre.

Adalita is the inimitable frontwoman of Australian rock outfit Magic Dirt, nominated for several ARIA Awards. She released her first solo self-titled album in 2011 and it was crowned Best Independent Album when it won the Australian Independent Record Award. In 2013 she followed up with her second studio album All Day Venus.

Steve Kilbey is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for the Australian rock band The Church, which has released more than 30 albums. In 2010, The Church was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame and went on to complete sell out tours of the USA and Australia. Throughout his musical career, Kilbey has been internationally lauded for his voice, stage presence and compositional skills.

Deborah Conway has been a significant and eloquent contributor to Australian music for over 30 years. Her first band Do Re Mi topped the charts; her first solo album achieved platinum sales while simultaneously becoming the most shoplifted album of that year. Conway is a former Artistic Director of the Queensland Music Festival and is currently Festival Director for The Shir Madness Melbourne Jewish Music Festival.

Jack Ladder is a singer-songwriter and composer based in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Since 2005 he has released four albums: Not Worth Waiting For, Love is Gone, HURTSVILLE (the last two shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize) and Playmates, awarded four stars by The Australian newspaper. Ladder is renowned for his distinct baritone voice, finely honed songwriting craft and ability to draw the listener into his narratives, holding them there to the end.

Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The Australian conductor has previously held the posts of Resident Guest Conductor of the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (2002-2006) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (2007-2010).

With guest artists including iOTA, Tim Rogers, Steve Kilbey, Deborah Conway, Adalita and Jack Ladder Performing David Bowie classics including Changes, China Girl, Life on Mars, Under Pressure, Let's Dance, Starman, Under Pressure and more. Bookings through Sydney Symphony Orchestra 9am "“ 5pm Monday to Friday on 8215 4600 or select your own seat at: www.sydneysymphony.com

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