Transcendence Signed Copy - Ngaiire

Since coming to national attention as a contestant on Australian Idol, Papua New Guinea-born Ngaiire, or Ngaire Laun Joseph, has defied genre and expectations. Her fusion of electronic neo-soul, gospel and R&B pop – filtered through her experiences as a First Nations woman – has seen her garner multiple award nominations and perform alongside the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Alicia Keys and Flume. Here she recounts the experience of performing on the Forecourt and how she found inspiration in the music of Crowded House along the way.

To celebrate five decades of live performance, 50 artists share their indelible memories of the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House’s illustrious 50-year history is celebrated through fifty recollections of unforgettable experiences and performances.

A singer overwhelmed by his crowd. A dancer on ice above sea. A teenage girl, later to become a virtuoso conductor, jolted by the sound of a symphony.

Two filmmakers exchange vows on their opera set. A photographer hears a Cistercian echo in the sails. And one night, after a Verdi curtain call, an audience member who looks a lot like Bob Dylan receives a private singing lesson in a theatre named after Australia’s greatest opera star.

For fifty years, the Sydney Opera House has elevated the spirits of all who enter its orbit.

Here, fifty artists – from Simone Young to Nick Cave, Sylvie Guillem to Briggs, Baz Luhrmann to Carlotta – share their most indelible memories from a building that embodies the Australian contemporary experience.