To break the mould of traditional opera, composer David Lang takes us to unexpected places. He has written an opera that is too quiet to hear, an opera for 1000 singers performed over a one-mile stretch and in The Little Match Girl Passion he substitutes the suffering of Jesus with the suffering of the young girl dying in the cold in Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale.

Also, choreographer Stephanie Lake gets dancers to perform with a kind of joy and discipline which would hold the attention — and the wonder — of anyone. Since forming Stephanie Lake Company, she has become one of Australia's most exciting and popular choreographers. Her acclaimed work Manifesto will soon have a return season at Arts Centre Melbourne.