Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A SEA SYMPHONY Comes Alive at the Sydney Opera House
There could be no more fitting stage than under the soaring sails of the Sydney Opera House, perched at the tip of Tubowgule (Bennelong Point) and embraced by the glittering blue expanse of the harbour. On Sunday 8 June, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will bring this magnificent work to life in a once-in-a-year performance, conducted by Artistic and Music Director Brett Weymark OAM.
So begins A SEA SYMPHONY, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ sweeping choral masterpiece – a work that captures the untameable force of the ocean and the restless yearning of the human spirit.
Photo by: Keith Saunders
“Behold, the sea itself,
And on its limitless, heaving breast, the ships;
See, where their white sails, bellying in the wind, speckle the green and blue.”
Written at the dawn of the 20th century – when sea travel was still the gateway to the wider world – Vaughan Williams’ symphony channels the thrill of exploration and the vast, unknowable power of nature. Yet the voyage it charts is not just across oceans, but deep within ourselves: into longing, courage, humility, and the quiet questions that stir beneath the surface of our lives.
Set to the poetry of Walt Whitman, A Sea Symphony surges with life – brimming with grandeur, awe and transcendence. Its verses call us to reflect on our place in the world, the fleetingness of time, and the boundless mystery of the horizon beyond.
Now in its seventeenth year, the internationally celebrated ChorusOz program once again assembles nearly 1,000 singers from across Australia and around the globe. They’ll be joined by a full symphony orchestra and acclaimed Opera Australia principals Julie Lea Goodwin and Andrew Moran, in what promises to be one of the most exhilarating choral events of the year.
Conceived to welcome singers of all levels – from seasoned choristers to passionate newcomers – ChorusOz offers a rare opportunity: to rehearse and perform a major choral work on one of the world’s most iconic stages, in the company of world-class musicians and a powerful community of voices. The result is more than a concert. It’s often described as a life-changing experience – a weekend of shared artistry, personal growth, and musical wonder.
Whether you’re singing or spectating, this is a performance not to be missed.
Let the waves carry you. Let the music move you. Let the sea sing through you.
When: Sunday 8 June
Where: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
Tickets: CLICK HERE
