Prepare the hampers! One of the most popular annual traditions in the Sydney Festival calendar has happily been rescheduled. The ultimate al fresco get-together, Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, will now take place on Saturday 26 March, making autumn just a little more excellent than usual.

This is a free and unticketed event; simply bring your favourite people, a picnic rug, a bottle of bubbly and all the cheese in the land to Parramatta Park – and we’ll bring you epic music from across the ages.

Led by celebrated conductor Benjamin Northey, the world-class Sydney Symphony Orchestra marks its 90th Anniversary with a program ranging from canonical greats like Dvořák and Mozart, to a selection of heart-stirring John Williams film classics from ET to Indiana Jones.

All building towards the thunderous finale – Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, accompanied by a dazzling splash of fireworks. Sydney Symphony Under the Stars is an unforgettable night of companionship and orchestral classics under the starlit canopy of an autumn evening.

It’s also the most fun you can have with Mozart and a blanket, probably

PROGRAM

DVOŘÁK – Carnival Overture

TRADITIONAL arr. Li Jasmine Flower

MOZART – Clarinet Concerto

ELENA KATS-CHERNIN – Russian Rag

WAGNER – Flying Dutchman Overture 

(Interval 20 min)

JOHN WILLIAMS – ET: Flying Theme, Star Wars: Leia’s Theme, Indiana Jones & Raiders of the Lost Ark: Raiders March

GRAINGER – Irish Tune from County Derry

TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 – Festival Overture