2009 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL PROGRAM LAUNCHED
The Victorian Government Minister for Arts, Lynne Kosky launched Artistic Director Brett Sheehy’s first Melbourne International Arts Festival program last night, Tuesday 14 July in Melbourne.
More than 800 people packed The Forum Theatre to hear Sheehy outline a powerful and emotive program that presents international works drawn from every art form – opera, outdoor spectacle, visual arts, symphonic music, dance and theatre to hybrid arts, techno, heavy metal and neo punk – for a unique celebration of contemporary arts.
The program features work from some of the world’s most exciting artists in 76 events, comprising 22 world premieres, and 16 Australian premieres from artists across 26 countries. There are free and low-cost events, and students can attend nearly every single performance for just $25, making even the most astonishing international opera, symphonic music, dance, theatre or hybrid arts incredibly accessible.
The 2009 Festival opens with an outdoor celebration featuring Transe Express performing its signature masterpiece Mischievous Bells in a spectacular free event across four nights. Festival highlights include the exclusive presentation of British film great and guest of the Festival Peter Greenaway’s multimedia extravaganza Leonardo’s Last Supper; the phenomenal K
