Faithfull coming to Sydney

Sixties rock survivor Marianne Faithfull will make her solo Sydney Opera House debut in a rare concert on February 3 as part of Adventures 2010.

The legendary UK icon will join other stellar artists including Antony and the Johnsons, American filmmaker John Waters and Andy Warhol’s 13 Most Beautiful as part of the Opera House’s international program of innovative performing arts.

The full Adventures program for 2010 will be announced in February.

Performing with her stunning eight-piece band, Faithfull will cover hits from her entire career — from Sister Morphine to Broken English — as well as songs from her critically acclaimed new release produced by the legendary Hal Willner, Easy Come, Easy Go.

Subtitled 18 Songs for Music Lovers, the album is Faithfull’s 22nd release and was recorded at the famous Sear Sound recording studios in New York.

This one-off special night will also feature a diverse range of songs written by legendary artists including Nick Cave, Morrisey, Dolly Parton, Duke Ellington and more.

Faithfull enjoys a cult-like following due largely to her early rock career and infamous off-stage history as the former girlfriend of Mick Jagger.

Sydney is part of that history after an incident in 1969 when she took 150 sleeping pills at a Potts Point hotel and miraculously woke up six days later in St Vincent’s Hospital.

Setting herself aside from her contemporaries in her continuing quest to explore new creative areas, Faithfull’s career has always been a positive process of self-assertion.

While the defining statements of many artists are made during their early years, Faithfull continues to develop her own voice.

A cunning and adept connoisseur of songs, Faithfull effortlessly stamps her own identity on every song she sings.

Charismatically teasing beauty from sadness, each interpretation is at once dark, dazzling and exhilarating.

info: Marianne Faithfull plays the Sydney Opera House concert hall on February 3 at 8pm. Tickets from $59. Bookings: 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com