Be our valentine? The enchanting harp chimed as the colour of love floods the stage and Town Hall’s seats fill with warm hearts and doe eyed gazes.
A night of ‘romantic classics’ presented by the grand Sydney Symphony Orchestra; conducted by the wonderful & internationally celebrated James Judd and presented by glowing ABC broadcaster Vanessa Hughes.
Whisked into the night as the lights dim and ‘O mio bambino Caro’ by Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924), delightfully evokes the senses.
Cheeks blush when presenter, Vanessa, re-introduces tonights’ summer concert and the next ‘romantic classic’ with a short story of the music origin and inspiration of Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Clause DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918). “What could be more hot than half man half horse”, she exclaims.
The audience giggling intimately as this is followed by an invite for guests to “canoodle” on the thoughtfully placed mats at the front of the stage whilst enjoying the continuation of the night.
From films Carousel (1945) to Star Wars (2002), there is romance to be heard in these everlasting music pieces behind many cinematic memories. Highlighting the romantic and amorous movements of Richard ROGERS (1902-1979), Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943), Ennio MORRICONE (1928-202) and John WILLIAMS (born 1932).
The Sydney Symphony exhibits a passionate embodiment of tales as old as time reading the love notes from Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY’s (1840-1893) Sleeping Beauty Suite Op.66a. Time to wake from the nights allure, as the final performance treats the audience to the famous Tristan Cord in Tristan und Isolde by Richard WAGNER (1813-1883). A magnificent piece expressing forbidden love as expressed in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The ultimate date night or perfect way to share a light hearted evening of classical and memorable romantic music in a historically charming venue.
Romantic Classics with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra was performed as part of The City of Sydney’s Summer Concerts at the Town Hall on Valentine ’s Day, the 14th of February 2026.
Photos courtesy of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
