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“ Contemporary music in all its forms has had a growing presence in festivals around the country .
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Modern operas from the second half of the 20th century onwards have also been presented . John Truscott included Michael Tippett ’ s The Knot Garden in 1989 , inviting a young Barrie Kosky to direct . Richard Wherrett famously presented Philip Glass ’ Einstein on the Beach directed by Robert Wilson with choreography by Lucinda Childs in 1992 . In 2003 , Glass ’ Akhnaten was directed and choreographed by Leigh Warren with the State Opera of South Australia . Sue Nattrass presented the world premiere of The Ghost Wife in 1999 , composed by Jonathan Mills . The work was an adaptation of Barbara Baynton ’ s story The Chosen Vessel , with a libretto by poet Dorothy Porter . Richard Mills ’ Batavia had its world premiere in a production by Opera Australia directed by Lindy Hume , an appropriate inclusion in Jonathan Mills ’ Federation Festival .
When opera reappeared following a hiatus beginning in 2004 , it was in a thoroughly contemporary form . In 2009 , Brett Sheehy presented Sasha Waltz & Guests ’ Medea by Pascal Dusapin and , in 2010 , Hotel Pro Forma returned with Tomorrow , in a Year , with music by Swedish electronic duo The Knife . In 2012 , Sheehy presented The Barbican Centre ’ s production of Dutch composer Michel van der Aa ’ s After Life . Based on a Japanese film , it provocatively asked , ‘ Could you distil your life to a single instant ?’ The 2015 program included The Rabbits by Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company in association with West Australian Opera ; co-commissioned by Josephine Ridge for Melbourne Festival and her successor , Jonathan Holloway , when he was Artistic Director of Perth Festival , where it premiered . An adaptation of the book by John Marsden and Shaun Tan , this new Australian opera featured music and performance by Kate Miller-Heidke and a libretto by Lally Katz . With its political undertones , it is an exhilarating work intended to appeal to both children and adults .
In recent years , contemporary music in all its forms has had a growing presence in festivals around the country , fitting well with the ambitions of classical music organisations to engage with new audiences . This has led to many distinctive collaborations produced by Melbourne Festival . In 2010 Sinead O ’ Connor , John Cale , Meshell Ndegeocello , Rickie Lee Jones , Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu , The Black Arm Band and Orchestra Victoria came together for Seven Songs to Leave Behind , an exploration of mortality and spirituality . Antony and the Johnsons performed Swanlights with the MSO in 2012 : providing a memorable festival moment when Boy George joined Antony on stage for the duet You Are My Sister . Detroit DJ Jeff Mills performed with the MSO in 2014 and , in 2015 , Melbourne Festival commissioned Sydney DJs Flight Facilities to arrange their music for a full orchestra . The duo performed with the MSO , to a sold out Sidney Myer Music Bowl crowd , in a concert that epitomises the collaborative blending of contemporary and classical genres , broad public appeal and large outdoor multi-media events .
Contemporary music was presented in the earlier years of the Festival , but it was most obvious in outdoor festivities such as the Festival of Bands and Festival of Music that started with John Truscott , directed by Barry Bignall and continued under various banners to 1999 . With his extensive experience in music , Clifford Hocking included artists such as Long John Baldry , one of the fathers of British Rock , among others . Jonathan Mills first presented John Cale in 2001 . The same year , the arrival of The Famous Spiegeltent and its Spiegelmaestro , David Bates , began a new era of popup festival venues for an eclectic contemporary program of music , cabaret and burlesque .
MELBOURNE FESTIVAL : 30 YEARS