Angelina Jolie in Sydney

Angelina Jolie is in Sydney to direct her new film (without Brad Pitt). Shooting will take place in front of Metro Hotel on Pitt (300 Pitt Street, Sydney) today at 11am.

However, guests will still be able to come in and out of the hotel during filming - but some may be escorted to prevent disruptions to filming. 

Celtic Women - Live In Concert Australia

With the Sydney show date re-scheduled, our four lovely, warm, strong and very gifted celestial sirens are sure to deliver a stunning evening performance combined with the sounds and sensibility blended with breath-taking renditions of contemporary ballads alongside traditional music from the Emerald Isle. 

Along with the distinct musical direction of Emmy® nominated musical producer, David Downes, the 2014 tour will feature a new stage production and the return of such enduring fan favourites as “You Raise Me Up” and “Orinoco Flow”.

Earlier this year, “Celtic Woman” vocalists Lisa Lambe, Susan McFadden and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt welcomed new addition - singer Máiréad Carlin - a talented young native of Derry in Ireland who already possesses a prestigious musical resume that includes performing at the 2013 BBC TV Gala concert "Sons and Daughters," a UK and Ireland concert tour with Don McLean and performing for the President of Ireland.

As a further highlight of this tour, “Celtic Woman” will be joined by 50 bright young stars from the Australian Girl’s Choir.  Known the country and indeed the world over for their angelic voices, the AGC is our country's leading performing arts organisation for girls and currently have over 4,000 choristers in training.   They have performed at many memorable events including World Reconciliation Day for Nelson Mandela, Ellen DeGeneres’ welcome party, Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama during official functions at Parliament House, Canberra.

The return visit to Sydney of “Celtic Woman” is sure to be an uplifting mix of timeless tradition and contemporary craft, transcending national and cultural borders to touch the hearts of a very devoted international fan base.

Ticketed Start Time 7.30pm

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Fri 17 January 2014

Starts at 7:30 PM

2014 Sydney Festival - Metro Hotels Accommodation Partner

Metro Hotels is an official Accommodation Partner of the 2014 Sydney Festival.

Netball World Championships to Complete Trifecta of Major Events in Sydney in 2015

SYDNEY will be sport central in 2015, with a world netball championship to be played in front of world record crowds completing a trifecta of major events to be hosted by the Olympic city in 2015.

SYDNEY will be sport central in 2015, with a world netball championship to be played in front of world record crowds completing a trifecta of major events to be hosted by the Olympic city in 2015.

Sydney will host Asian Cup games, which include the decider at Stadium Australia, and ICC Cricket World Cup matches in February/March with the world netball championships to be played from August 7-16.

These three international showcase events will be complemented by regular Sydney sporting events such as State of Origin rugby league, the Golden Slipper, the annual ANZAC DAY test between the Dragons and Roosters and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day.

Yesterday tournament officials confirmed netball fans will be delivered more games and better quality matches than ever before at a world championship event.

The tournament, where Australian and New Zealand will clash early in the tournament instead of just in the decider thanks to a format revamp, will also be played at the biggest stadium in the championships history with Allphones Arena at Sydney Olympic Park able to host around 17,000 fans.

"They will be world record crowd I am certain,'' said Netball Australia boss Kate Palmer who helped formulate the new format which will pit top teams against each other in both the rounds and the finals series for the first time.

Michelle den Dekker, the last captain to lead an Australian team to victory at home, said the win back in 1991 remains a highlight of her career.

"I can still remember the noise from our final. You seriously couldn't hear a thing,'' said den Dekker of Australia's one-goal win over New Zealand at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

When den Dekker was in charge she and her teammates earned around $8.40 a day as top netballers, lived in a Sydney university dormitory, ate meals in a cafeteria and functioned without a team doctor, nutritionist or psychologist.

When de Dekker, now the Australian assistant coach, is next involved in a home challenge in 2015 players and team staff will stay in a five-star hotel, have access to the best technical and medical resources available to elite athletes and be watched by a record crowd of around 17,000.

And while things have changed for the better in terms of funding, backing and general support for netball since the last event in 1991, den Dekker is still hoping for the same result as Australia achieved _ a cliffhanger win by the hosts.

"That game, the final, sort of started those great, one goal battles that have been going on ever since,'' den Dekker said of a match which helped change the perception of netball as a "girlie" sport to that of a tough, physical contest between highly skilled athletes..

"It was an event that really changed the way people looked at us. We went from women who played a game in a park in the eyes of people, to real athletes who people recognised.''

Current Australian coach Laura Gietz, just six when the famous final between the two powers of netball was played in Sydney, doesn't remember then Prime Minister Bob Hawke pumping the air in triumph or embracing Australian players after the win.

"I was six. I don't remember it at all, sorry,'' she laughed.

"But I do know how special it is to play at home and I can't wait.''

Metro Hotels Provides Spiritual Book to Guests as a Source of Inspiration

In a world-first, Australian-owned hotel chain Metro Hotels will place a book called Jing Si Aphorisms in all rooms in its NSW and Queensland properties, to enable guests to learn more about the Buddhist compassionate relief organisation, Tzu Chi Foundation.

The Foundation first came to the attention of the hotel chain when it went unasked to the aid of Ipswich residents, giving out care packages following the devastating 2011 floods. 

The hotel chain’s Ipswich property, Metro Hotel Ipswich International, built a relationship with the Foundation and offered to put books in its rooms so that its guests would learn more about the work and philosophy of the organisation.

Metro Hotels decided to extend this offer to other properties, with Metro Hotel Sydney Central General Manager Earl Muir yesterday accepting a special presentation of the books from Julia Wu, principal of Tzu Chi Foundation, Gold Coast, and Stephen Kan, CEO of Tzu-Chi Sydney.

The book, Jing Si Aphorisms, translates the essence of the Buddha’s teachings to exemplify life lessons. ‘Aphorism’ means original thought, or definition, and rather than being a religious text the book is meant to be an explanation of the Buddhist faith. 

Mr Muir said the Tzu Chi Foundation, which lives by the creed that it is more of a blessing to serve others than be served, believes in service to the community and has demonstrated its commitment to this belief through its actions in Ipswich.

“This organisation has shown tremendous compassion and service to Australian communities when they are in need and Metro Hotel believes it is an organisation which Australians may want to know more about,” he said.

“Placing Jing Si Aphorisms in our hotel rooms gives guests another reading option to the Holy Bible. The book is being supplied as a source of inspiration to our guests. This is not about converting people from one religion to another but rather promoting harmony and diversity.” 

See this press release and more at Metro Hotels News

Coming Soon to Capitol Theatre Sydney: Wicked - The Broadway Musical

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz.

One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

When WICKED opened on Broadway, it worked its magic on critics and audiences alike. Winner of 35 major awards including a Grammy®, three Tony Awards® and six Helpmann Awards including Best Musical, WICKED has been described as the “Best Musical of the Decade.” Entertainment Weekly

After its success on Broadway, in North America, London, Germany, Japan and Australia, WICKED will return to Sydney in 2014 for a strictly limited season.

Click on the link and “Add to Favourites” to be the first in line to get tickets for this spectacular show in Sydney! 

Sydney Festival Unveils 2014 Lineup

Mike Patton Performing Luciano Berio’s 1965 composition Laborintus II

Classical performances from Mike Patton and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, and a tribute to Big Star’s cult 1978 albumThird/Sister Lovers lead the Sydney Festival program for 2014.

The performance of Big Star’sThird will see the last remaining musician from the band, drummer Jody Stephens, joined by REM’s Mike Mills, The Posies’ Ken Stringfellow and guest local and international artists. Lee Ranaldo will perform his new work Hurricane Transcriptions on a double bill alongside Mike Patton, who will be performing Luciano Berio’s 1965 composition Laborintus III, which is described as “a montage of spoken word, instrumentation and electronics.”

The festival, which will once again take over the city from January 9 – 26, also includes performances from former Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton, solo artist John Grant, post-punk survivor Edwyn Collins (Orange Juice), Daptone’s Lee Fields & The Expressions, electronic duo Matmos, avant-jazz saxophonist and Arcade Fire/Bon Iver collaborator Colin Stetson, punk-cabaret provocateur Amanda Palmer and former Bad Seed Mick Harvey revisiting his albums of Serge Gainsbourg’s interpretationsIntoxicated Man and Pink Elephants.

Other festival highlights include Laneway festival’s Kurt Vile playing two shows – a solo set and a full-band gig – off the back of his recent album Walkin on a Pretty Daze; Bombino, the acclaimed electric guitarist from Niger, playing a Falls sideshow; and Malian duo Amadou & Mariam returning to Australia with their “multi-sensory experience” Eclipse. While the festival has abandoned its traditional free opening-night party, disco star Chaka Khan will play a free show in the Domain gardens on January 11.

MAJOR EVENTS

Lee Ranaldo’s Hurricane Transcriptions / Mike Patton’s Laborintus III with Ensemble Offspring & The Song Company
City Recital Hall – January 16

Big Star’s Third
Enmore Theatre, January 23

Chaka Khan
The Domain – January 11

Amadou & Mariam’s Eclipse
Sydney Town Hall, January 9-11

So Frenchy So Chic in The Park – Lou Doillon, Lilly Wood & The Prick, Féfé and Circus Babylon
St John’s College, University of Sydney – January 18

Tyondai Braxton’s HIVE + Canyons & Daniel Boyd’s 100 Million Nights
Concert Hall Sydney Opera House, January 21

Matmos
City Recital Hall, January 15

Sun Ra Arkestra
State Theatre, January 18

Ambrose Akinmusire
City Recital Hall, January 11
The Spiegeltent, January 12

FESTIVAL VILLAGE

Amanda Palmer
The Spiegeltent, January 9-19

Tom Thum
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 21-26

Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers
The Spiegeltent, January 8
Parramatta Opening Party, January 10

Bombino
The Spiegeltent, January 9-10
The Lennox, Parramatta, January 11

Chris Thile
The Spiegeltent, January 14 – 15
The Lennox, Parramatta, January 16

Samaris
The Spiegeltent, January 16 – 17

Edwyn Collins
The Spiegeltent, January 19 – 21
The Lennox, Parramatta, January 18

The Staves
The Spiegeltent, January 22 – 23
Sutherland Entertainment Centre, January 24

Sinkane
The Spiegeltent, January 24 & 26

C.R. Avery & The Sojourners
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 9 – 10

Dom Flemons
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 11 – 12

Kurt Vile
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 23

Colin Stetson
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 25 – 26

Hot Dub Time Machine
The Spiegeltent, January 11, 18 & 25

Donny Benet & The Donny Benet Show Band
The Spiegeltent, January 10, 17 & 24

Lee Fields & The Expressions
The Spiegeltent, January 19

Funki Porcini
The Spiegeltent, January 16

Andrew Weatherall
The Spiegeltent, January 26

PARADISO AT TOWN HALL

John Grant and John Murry
January 16

Modular Night – Juan Atkins, Movement, Roland Tings, Wordlife and Softwar
January 17

Orquesta Tipica Fernandez Fierro
January 18

Mick Harvey: Intoxicated Man
January 19

Kurt Vile & The Violators
January 22

Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins with DJ Romes
January 23

Future Classic – Jacques Renault, Medlar, Touch Sensitive, Wave Racer
January 24

Soil & Pimp Sessions
January 25

The Soft Pink Truth
January 16

Andy Votel
January 19

Tyondai Braxton
January 22

- See more at: http://sydneycbdhotels.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/sydney-festival-unveils-2014-lineup.html#sthash.1Hh2SQZ4.dpuf