- Opera Orfeo ed Euridice to headline opening weekend at the 2016 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
- Celebrities walk the red carpet at star-studded launch at Vaucluse Yacht Club
- Audi Hamilton Island Race Week program launch demonstrates why the event is Australia's premier celebration of lifestyle and competitive sailing
Sydney / Hamilton Island, Thursday 7 April 2016 – Celebrating 11 years of partnership, the 2016 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week (AHIRW) was launched to celebrities and media in Sydney last night.
Italian-born opera singer, Silvia Colloca, performed an extract from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice - which has been named the headline act for opening weekend of AHIRW, set to take place from 20 - 27 August, 2016.
The dynamic and modern interpretation directed by Shannon Murphy, celebrates food, fashion, and culture – unlike anything ever experienced at AHIRW before.
Vaucluse Yacht Club was transformed into tropical wonderland reminiscent of the spectacular Hamilton Island, as Audi ambassadors Lisa Wilkinson, Asher Keddie, James Tobin, Guillaume Brahimi, and Darren Palmer walked the red carpet along with Channel Seven presenters Melissa Doyle and Mark Beretta, popular Haydenshapes surfboard designer Hayden Cox, Aje designers Edwina Robinson and Adrian Norris, and of course, Silvia Colloca.
Over the past 10 years of partnership, Audi and Hamilton Island have worked hand-in-hand to create the most impressive and significant sailing regatta in Australia, with engaging activities on offer for sailors and onshore guests alike. This shared vision is based on a joint passion for winning performance, technological innovation and spirited competition.
"Audi prides itself of providing exceptional events in Australia's most iconic destinations. Last year we celebrated ten years of dynamic partnership with Hamilton Island, this year we want to prove again why AHIRW is the most-popular and aspirational lifestyle event in the country. It's one of the most anticipated events on the Australian social calendar and we'd like to see as many people join us as possible," Audi Australia's Managing Director, Andrew Doyle said.
Hamilton Island's Brand Director, Nicky Oatley described Audi Hamilton Island Race Week as a truly bespoke sailing regatta.
"AHIRW is an event for all Australians. It's no longer just a sailing regatta - it is a true lifestyle event that caters to all interests, where guests can enjoy the best of food, fashion, art and world-class sailing on the Great Barrier Reef," she said.
Along with the Orfeo ed Euridice announcement, Audi and Hamilton Island revealed plans to celebrate Australia's Olympians at AHIRW in 2016, with a ticker tape parade along Front Street, a collaboration with the recently crowned world surfboard designer of the year - Hayden Cox (Haydenshapes) and a range of other onshore events featuring Audi Ambassadors, Guillaume Brahimi, Shannon Bennett and Matt Moran.
About Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia's favourite yachting events and a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. Competitors, family and friends come together to enjoy the convivial atmosphere and unique camaraderie of the event's on-water and off-water carnival. Every August, spectators and yachties from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week - Australia's largest offshore keelboat regatta.
About Orfeo ed Euridice
Originally created for the inaugural Spectrum Now Festival at Art Gallery of NSW and Directed by Shannon Murphy, winner of the 2013 InStyle and Audi Style Scholarship; this adaptation of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice will be staged on various locations around the award-winning Hamilton Island resort qualia.
This is a sensory and immersive experience featuring the work of florist, artist and academic Dr Lisa Cooper and costumes custom-designed by cult Australian fashion label Aje.
Incorporating film and beautiful visual arrangements, Gluck's three woman opera is a dynamic and modern interpretation not to be forgotten as audiences follow Orfeo into the underworld to save Euridice.
Audi Ambassador, Matt Moran will complete the immersive experience, with a bespoke menu designed to match the emotions of the performance.
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The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in twelve countries. In the second half of 2016, Audi will start production of the Q5 in San José Chiapa (Mexico). 100-percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include quattro GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2015, the Audi Group delivered to customers approximately 1.8 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 3,245 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and about 54,800 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2014 financial year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €53.8 billion and an operating profit of €5.15 billion. At present, approximately 85,000 people work for the company all over the world, about 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on new products and sustainable technologies for the future of mobility.