Spiegeltent at the Sydney Opera House

When’s It On: 17 October – 15 November 2008

What Is A “Spiegeltent”?

The word “spiegeltent” is Dutch for “mirror tent”.

Wikipedia defines a spiegeltent as a “large travelling tent, constructed in wood and canvas and decorated with mirrors and stained glass, intended as an entertainment venue”.

The Sydney Spiegeltent is a combo “festival club, cabaret salon, dance hall and intimate concert venue” according to the website of the Sydney Opera House.

By way of background, the Spiegeltent is huge in Melbourne, where it’s hosted at the top of St Kilda Road near the Melbourne CBD as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival.

Sydney’s Spiegeltent

In Sydney, 2008 is a special year for the Spiegeltent in that this is the first and only year that it will reside in front of the Sydney Opera House, right on Sydney Harbour.

Australian musicians slated to play at the Spiegeltent include Old Man River (I saw them at the Apollo Bay Music Festival in Victoria this year and they were very good), Lior (who started off doing weddings – including my friend’s), Tex Perkins (of The Cruel Sea fame), Dave Graney (of Coral Snakes fame) and Jimmy Barnes (of Cold Chisel fame). Oh and er, Vanessa Amorosi (who sang that annoying song Absolutely Everybody).

In her first ever Sydney performance, NY singer Gretchen Parlato will perform her unique brand of Brazilian-African jazz. Parlato has been lauded by jazz great Herbie Hancock and music critics alike, so I’m looking forward to seeing her.

There will also be comedy and other variety acts on offer at the Sydney Spiegeltent in 2008.

Spiegeltent Tickets

All Spiegeltent tickets are under $50 and available from the Sydney Opera House box office.

Oct 3, 2008

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