Talking Music (2013-2019)

Talking Music (2013-2019)

19 Episodes

Some of the world's greatest musicians have graced the stage at Sydney Opera House. In 'Talking Music', they share their reflections on their work, their influences and their greatest passions.

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Talking Music (2013-2019)
  • Nile Rodgers - Talking Music

    Episode 1

    In this 2013 interview, ABC radio presenter Robbie Buck sits down with the legendary Nile Rodgers. Together, they talk about how it all began, 'orchestrating everyday life', and skipping school.

  • Glen Hansard - Talking Music

    Episode 2

    In this 2013 interview, The Frames frontman, Glen Hansard, chats about his musical beginnings, inspirations, and what music means to him.

  • The National - Talking Music

    Episode 3

    In this 2014 interview, Sydney Opera House's head of contemporary music, Ben Marshall, sits down with The National to speak about the emotional depth of their music, band chemistry, and on-stage rituals.

  • Flying Lotus - Talking Music

    Episode 4

    Hailed as the 'Hendrix of his generation', Steven Ellison, AKA Flying Lotus, discusses art as as a vehicle for change, his influences, and why innovation matters in this 2014 interview at Sydney Opera House.

  • The Pixies - Talking Music

    Episode 5

    Pixies founding members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, and David Lovering sat down for an interview ahead of their 2014 four night residency at Sydney Opera House for Vivid LIVE.

  • Nils Frahm - Talking Music

    Episode 6

    Prodigious German pianist-producer Nils Frahm offers local classical music pioneer Peter Hollo (Tangents) a behind-the-scenes insight into his complex and dynamic live performance setup ahead of his critically acclaimed debut Australian performance at Vivid LIVE on Tuesday 27 May 2014.

  • Max Richter - Talking Music

    Episode 7

    Hailed as one of the most influential contemporary composers of the past decade, legendary and innovative British composer Max Richter chats about Vivaldi, his inspirations and the essence of live performance in this 2015 interview.

  • Damon Albarn - Talking Music

    Episode 8

    Over a 25 year career, Damon Albarn has led one of Britain's quintessential bands, Blur, and masterminded the genre-hopping brilliance of Gorillaz. In this exclusive 2014 interview, Damon chats about the origins of Song 2, live performance, and his critically acclaimed new solo album Everyday Rob...

  • Gordan Gano, Violent Femmes - Talking Music

    Episode 9

    In this 2014 interview, Violent Femmes’ legendary lead singer Gordan Gano discusses the band, musical influences and busking in Australia.

  • Ásgeir - Talking Music

    Episode 10

    In this 2014 interview, 22-year-old Icelandic phenomenon Asgeir discusses the Icelandic music scene, his musical influences and playing Australia and Sydney Opera House for the first time.

  • Caribou - Talking Music

    Episode 11

    In this 2015 interview, electronic pop auteur Caribou aka Dan Snaith discusses his musical influences, aliases, close friend and collaborator Four Tet and the art of playing electronic music live.

  • Mogwai - Talking Music

    Episode 12

    In this 2015 interview, Stuart Braithwaite and Barry Burns of Scottish post-rock titans Mogwai discuss the important experience of playing live, new album Rave Tapes’ new synthesizer and sequencer infused sound and playing on a boat party to Noel and Liam Gallagher in Sydney Harbour.

  • Angélique Kidjo - Talking Music

    Episode 13

    When Angélique spoke to the Sydney Opera House for this interview, she had two Grammys to her name - she's up to four now. In this classic interview from the archives, she discusses how music can build bridges and the inspiration behind her 2014 album Eve.

  • Paul Kelly - Talking Music

    Episode 14

    Dapper as usual in a brown suit and open necked shirt, slightly stooped but hawkeyed, Paul Kelly declines the offer of his much-loved cabernet in favour of an ale as he looks out of Bennelong Restaurant and over Sydney Harbour.

    Celebrating 30 years since 'To Her Door', the legendary punk-poet ma...

  • Olafur Arnalds - Talking Music

    Episode 15

    A neo-classical wonder who has collaborated with Nils Frahm and soundtracked Broadchurch, Iceland's BAFTA-winning pianist, composer, musician and producer returns to present past, current and brand new material in a new light.

    We sat down with multi-instrumentalist in 2018, moments before he too...

  • Andrew Weatherall - Talking Music

    Episode 16

    Andrew Weatherall was one of the music world's true innovators. He made his first and only appearance at the Sydney Opera House in December 2017 with an unforgettable five-hour Studio party, taking the audience on an eclectic journey through the history of electronic music and beyond.

    In this i...

  • Wu-Tang's RZA and Briggs - Talking Music

    Episode 17

    When Staten Island Hip-Hop Meets Aussie Hip-Hop. Before Wu-Tang took over the Concert Hall, we invited Australian rapper Briggs to chat with one of his biggest music influences, the groundbreaking hip-hop craftsman RZA.

    Having never met before, the two spoke about numerous topics including RZA’s...

  • Kamasi Washington - Talking Music

    Episode 18

    Moments before stunning a sold out Concert Hall audience, tenor sax don Kamasi Washington sat down with Sydney Opera House Music Producer Alister Hill to chat about the parallels between imagination and reality, how a digital age is making us write music faster, and why the first take is always t...

  • Mohammad Reza Mortazavi - Talking Music

    Episode 19

    Mohammad Reza Mortazavi is widely recognised as one of the world's best players of the tombak and the daf, two instruments central to Persian percussive music. Relying upon nothing more than a drum and his own dexterity, Mortazavi creates trance-like polyrhythmic soundscapes, complete with melod...