An illustration of a Cabaret show in a Parisian Bar.

Cocteau’s Circle

  • Classical Music
  • Australian Chamber Orchestra
  • Concert Hall
  • Run time: 120 minutes, 1 interval Subject to change
  • Seating map

Join the Australian Chamber Orchestra on an adventure to Paris as they close their 50th Anniversary National Concert Season with a night of celebration and surprise

Step into the intimate, dreamy light of Le Boeuf sur le toit, the legendary cabaret bar of 1920s Paris. The liquor is strong and spirits are high. War is over and art is flourishing. Here, Europe’s most fashionable mingle with the city’s greatest minds: Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway Gertrude Stein…

And you’re invited to join their circle.

Richard Tognetti directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra as they dive into an era of innovation and wonder, featuring renowned Australian soprano Alexandra Oomens.

Le Gateau Chocolat, of La Clique and La Soirée fame, will be the ACO maitre d’. Brilliant bass and exceptional entertainer, he’ll take you on a journey into les années folles (the crazy years).

The ACO have always been rule-breakers, so this program shines a light on the innovators who paved the way for future trend-setters. You’ll hear the music of Erik Satie, Lili Boulanger and the group dubbed ‘Les Six’ – composers including Francis Poulenc and Darius Milhaud, who took their inspiration from the transgressive jazz they heard at Le Boeuf as well as Cocteau’s avant-garde poetry.

Directed by Circa’s Yaron Lifschitz, who always brings the unexpected, this will be a spectacular evening of storytelling, song and surrealism.

Presented by Australian Chamber Orchestra

Event details

Program and artists

Elena Kats-Chernin Pre-show: Intermission Music#
Georges Auric Ouverture* [abridged]
Elena Kats-Chernin Interlude 1: Les années folles (The crazy years)#
Igor Stravinsky L’Histoire du soldat: Ragtime
Arthur Honegger Les Mariés de la tour Eiffel: Marche funèbre*
Elena Kats-Chernin Interlude 2: L’opéra (The opera)#
Henri Christiné Phi-Phi: Bien Chapeautée*
Germaine Tailleferre String Quartet: I. Modéré*
George Gershwin Oh, Lady Be Good!*
Maurice Ravel String Quartet: IV. Vif et agité** 
Elena Kats-Chernin Interlude 3: Le sacré (The sacred)#
Francis Poulenc Les Chemins de l’amour*
Lili Boulanger Pie Jesu
Igor Stravinsky Trois piéces pour quatuor à cordes: I. Danse, III. Cantique
George Gershwin Porgy and Bess: I Loves You, Porgy*
Jean Françaix Concertino for Piano & Orchestra: I. Presto leggiero*
Elena Kats-Chernin Interlude 4: Les fantômes (The ghosts)#
Claude Debussy String Quartet, Op.10: II. Assez vif et bien rythmé** 
Janis Ian Stars*
Elena Kats-Chernin Interlude 5: Étonnez-moi (Astonish me)#
Darius Milhaud Le Bœuf sur le toit, Op.58*** 
Edith Piaf L’Hymne a l’amour

#Commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra
*Arranged by Andrew Howes
**Arranged by Richard Tognetti
***Arranged by Bernard Rofe

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Concert Hall

The Concert Hall is located beneath the largest of Sydney Opera House’s roof sails, filling the upper levels of the west side of the building. Best accessed through the covered concourse. 

All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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