ACO: The Four Seasons - A Music Film In Conversation with Richard Evans and Matisse Ruby
1 May 2025
In the Playhouse
Cinema
Australia | 2024 | English | Concert Film | E
The Four Seasons is arguably the most recognisable piece of classical music ever written. This filmed ACO performance, directed by Richard Tognetti, highlights the symbiosis between Vivaldi’s Venice and the Middle East, interspersing Vivaldi’s masterpiece with music by Australian-Egyptian composer and oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros.
This special screening is followed by an insightful conversation with ACO Managing Director Richard Evans and film director Matisse Ruby, plus an audience Q&A.
| Date | Time |
| Thursday 1 May 2025 | 6pm |
| Ticket | Price |
| Standard | $30 |
| Concession | $26 |
| Ticket + Drink | |
| Standard | $39* |
| Concession | $36* |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
*Includes one standard ticket plus one drink redeemable on the day of the event from the Western Foyers Bar. Drink options include one glass of house red or white wine, prosecco, house beer or soft drink. See T&Cs under 'Event information'.
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
General Public on sale
9am, Thursday 27 February 2025
In English
Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
The total duration of this event is approximately 95 minutes. A 70 minute screening followed by a 25 minute live discussion.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
The advertised start time is the introduction start time. Venue doors will open approximately 15 minutes before the advertised start time.
Age
This film is exempt from classification.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Ticket + Drink Terms and Conditions
The Ticket + Drink entitles a patron to one standard entry to the film screening plus one drink. Drink options include one glass of house red or white wine, prosecco, house beer or soft drink. Red wine must be consumed prior to entering the theatre.
Redeem your drink prior to the film start time. The voucher must be redeemed on the same day as the film screening date displayed on your ticket. The drink voucher is only redeemable at the bar located in the Sydney Opera House Western Foyers. For further information please contact the Box Office: +61 2 9250 7777
Alcoholic beverages are subject to the NSW Responsible Service of Alcohol Act.
The West AustralianOne of the most rhapsodic, lyrical, explosive and imaginative Four Seasons you’re ever likely to hear.
Useful information:
A truly cinematic orchestral experience
The Australian Chamber Orchestra has always forged its own path and refused to be constrained by genre or artform. With Artistic Director and violinist Richard Tognetti at the helm, the ACO has been producing films for over a decade, from their award-winning collaborations with BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom (Mountain, River) to their acclaimed series of music films, ACO StudioCasts, which were developed in partnership with director Matisse Ruby to create a truly cinematic orchestral experience. The Four Seasons, also directed by Ruby and with cinematography by Jeremy Rouse (Blaze), is the latest film release from this ground-breaking ensemble.
The Four Seasons is arguably the most recognisable piece of classical music ever written. This performance, directed by Tognetti, highlights the profound symbiosis between Vivaldi’s Venice and the Middle East, interspersing Vivaldi’s masterpiece with music by Australian-Egyptian composer and oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros. This coming together of Eastern and Western musical traditions honours Vivaldi’s classic while giving it new life. A must-see for music lovers and cinephiles alike.
Following the screening, join ACO Managing Director Richard Evans for an engaging live discussion. He will be joined by the film's director, Matisse Ruby, for an in-depth conversation along with an audience Q&A.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Program
Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Interspersed with music by Joseph Tawadros
Artists
Richard Tognetti
Director and Lead Violin
Joseph Tawadros
Oud
James Tawadros
Riq
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Matisse Ruby
Film Director
Jeremy Rouse
Director of Photography
Richard Evans
Host
Richard Evans is currently Managing Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, President of Live Performance Australia, Chair of the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals and Principal of REĂ Consulting.
An experienced CEO, non-executive director, cultural precinct leader, producer, and public servant, Richard Evans has held roles as Executive Director of The Bell Shakespeare Company, Managing Director of Sydney’s BridgeClimb, Executive Director of The Australian Ballet, Interim Managing Director of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and CEO of Sydney Opera House.
In his role at the Opera House Richard oversaw 2,500 events annually, attracted over $200 million in major capital works funding, established a number of new festivals and activations, significantly developing the public domain and presided over a period of unprecedented economic, brand, tourism visitation and audience growth.
Richard has a deep knowledge of and experience in managing creative companies, a strong entrepreneurial outlook and a solid record of commercial growth and government relations. Richard is a passionate place maker and leader of high-performing teams, with an acute sense of potential for public spaces and cultural infrastructure projects.
Following a 20-year career Richard Evans established REĂ Consulting Pty Ltd in early 2013. REĂ Consulting Pty Ltd is a boutique consulting firm offering business, philanthropic, contemporary communications and marketing insights and strategies.
Matisse Ruby
Speaker
Matisse Ruby is a Chilean (Mapuche)/Australian writer and director from Sydney Australia. Matisse graduated from the Australian Film and Television School with degrees in both Directing and Screenwriting.
Early in her career, Matisse began assisting on the development of works such as the AACTA Award Winning short Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and The Rose with Del Kathryn Barton and Warwick Thornton’s We Don’t Need A Map. Matisse has since served as Associate Producer on documentaries Blasko and Hannah Gadsby’s Nakedy Nudes, both for ABC TV.
Her strengths in story development led to a four-year collaboration with director Brendan Fletcher, significantly contributing to his film and TV endeavours. This includes the notable AMC+ Series Firebite (See Saw), she was also instrumental in the development of Taronga, which was selected for the inaugural IMPACT accelerator program.
Matisse's fusion of her artistic background and inherent storytelling skills shine in her directorial ventures. In 2021, she directed a series of films for the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s innovative Studiocast Season. These films garnered acclaim from major outlets like the Sydney Morning Herald/The Age and Limelight Magazine, utimately leading to a Directors Guild Award in 2022. Her latest film for the ACO The Four Seasons premierd at Palace Cinemas in 2025.
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
You may bring drinks into the venue to enjoy during the performance. Hot beverages, red wine, glassware and food however cannot be brought in due to safety and to help maintain the character of the building.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram 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). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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