Anna Lapwood performs Max Richter presented by Sydney Symphony Orchestra tickets

A Universe of Sound

Max Richter’s music comes directly from the heart; his compositions feel both vast and intimately personal. ABC Classic calls him an ‘expert in presenting an emotion or a feeling.’ Fresh from its 2025 Royal Albert Hall debut, his luminous concerto for organ, orchestra and choir Cosmology receives its Australian premiere.  

Co-commissioned by the Sydney Symphony and written for and performed by Anna Lapwood – one of classical music’s brightest stars – Cosmology is a radiant showcase for her powerful presence and natural ability to connect. Her artistry brings an emotional clarity to Richter’s slow-burning harmonies and glowing textures, building toward a breathtaking climax.  

Kristina Arakelyan’s striking Toccata, also written for Lapwood, makes its Australian premiere. Full of percussive energy and bold contrasts, it’s an evocative opener that sets a vivid tone.  

Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra unleashes the Sydney Symphony in full force. Surging with colour and invention, it moves between striding basslines, folk-inspired winds and eerie flutters of flute and brass. The finale charges in a blazing, triumphant flourish. It’s a work that both tests and celebrates an orchestra’s full power.  

Spanning glowing stillness to symphonic fire, this program explores sound in all its dimensions. 

Please note Max Richter is not performing in this concert.