The Sydney Opera House has announced Generations and Dynasties will return in 2025.
Expanding to four events after a successful inaugural series last year, and held in the intimate Utzon Room, these special evenings will celebrate First Nations families through conversation, storytelling and live performance.
The 2025 program features an outstanding line-up of genre-spanning artists: William Barton and Aunty Delmae Barton (29 April), Bunna Lawrie and family (14 May), Christine Anu and Zipporah Corser-Anu (7 August) and Naomi and Joel Wenitong (14 August).
The series offers a showcase of musical talent within four families, inviting each to share stories drawn from culture and community. These open forums give the artists space to discuss cross-generational influences in their family and to explore themes such as resilience, creativity, discrimination and empowerment in their music.
All speakers participating will perform throughout the evening, often sharing the stage together, and will answer audience questions in a brief Q&A to close the night.
Head of First Nations Programming at the Sydney Opera House, Michael Hutchings, shared his excitement surrounding the events return and a new line-up of talented creatives.
"The response to Generations & Dynasties from community and artists has been rich and rewarding. It's a privilege to create a forum where this special intersection of culture, creativity and intergenerational exchange can be celebrated," he said.
"We are so excited to bring the second series to life with such a stacked line-up of industry-leading musicians, who have all been inspirational innovators in their own ways. This series allows us to honour the living tradition that spans tens of thousands of years of sharing songs and stories here on Tubowgule, where the Opera House now stands."
Program highlights include William Barton and his mother Aunty Delmae Barton in conversation with Rhyan Clapham aka Dobby, Jason Scott, Jhindu-Pedro Lawrie, Yirgjhilya and Catherine Satour in conversation with Michael Hutchings and much more.
The Sydney Opera House's First Nations program strives to continue the traditions of Bennelong Point, known to its traditional custodians as Tubowgule, a Gadigal meeting place for tens of thousands of years. The year-round program celebrates the richness of First Nations cultures by presenting works that address contemporary issues, revive forgotten stories and revitalise ancient cultural practice.
For more fashion, culture, arts and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.
