Café Carnivale was established in 2000 to provide performance opportunities in Sydney for musicians of non-English speaking backgrounds.
Café Carnivale made its debut on the Sydney stage at the 2000 Olympics and has built an enviable reputation for its authentic performances of music from around the globe; South America, Balkan, Rembetika, Greek, Indian, African, Asian, Italian, Egyptian, flamenco, Chinese, gypsy, percussion, tango, salsa – the musical journey goes on and on.
Café Carnivale’s world music series was developed by Justo Diaz, then the NSW multicultural music coordinator of the Carnivale Festival in collaboration with Carol Hirt of Eastside Arts, Paddington. When the Carnivale Festival closed, Café Carnivale found its new home with Musica Viva Australia with special funding from the NSW Ministry for the Arts.
The concert series reveals the hidden multicultural treasures of Sydney with performances by musicians of diverse backgrounds who have come to live in Sydney struggling to find places to perform.
Turning the spotlight onto world music might seem to be a new direction for the world’s largest chamber music presenter, Musica Viva, but according to Musica Viva’s Chief Executive Officer, Mary Jo Capps, it is consistent with its long-standing goal of presenting ensemble music to as many Australians as possible.