A PSYCHEDELIC SYMPHONY: LIVE AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE (2014)
WITH THE GEORGE ELLIS ORCHESTRA

Part 1:

1.   Metropolis (2:57)
2.   Sealine (4:17)
3.   Lost (4:48)
4.   Almost With You (4:52)
5.   Anchorage (6:25)
6.   Pangaea (3:56)
7.   The Unguarded Moment (3:56) 
8.   Myrrh (4:33)
9.   Never Before (5:44)
10.   Grind (7:46)

Part 2:

11.   Happy Hunting Ground (6:00)
12.   Ripple (6:11)
13.   Reptile (5:52)
14.   Two Places At Once (7:27) *
15.   The Disillusionist (7:13)
16.   Spark (3:51)
17.   On Angel Street [as "On Angel St"] (7:29)
18.   Under the Milky Way (6:28)
19.   Space Saviour (5:16)
20.   Tantalized (9:55) 

     * Vocals by Steve Kilbey & Marty Willson-Piper.

Credits

Peter Koppes - guitars, baritone guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals
Steve Kilbey - vocals, bass, six string bass, guitar
Tim Powles - drums, percussion, vocals
Marty Willson-Piper - guitars, bass, vocals, percussion

For full credits see the A Psychedelic Symphony: Live at Sydney Opera House DVD page.

Releases (rev. Aug. 3, 2026)

• 2CD - Unorthodox UNO010 (Australia) - May 16, 2014 - 6-panel cardboard sleeve with booklet
• Digital Download - Unorthodox (Australia) - May 16, 2014

Notes

Short write-up at the church shop:

In April 2011, celebrating a 30 year Anniversary and recent ARIA Hall of Fame induction, Australian musical icons THE CHURCH played a spectacular sold out show at the Sydney Opera House. This Psychedelic Symphony was a one-off musical event and fan treat, featuring the bands' collaboration with conductor George Ellis and his specially assembled Orchestra. Filmed by XYZ, it is finally released on a single dual layer DVD - a timeless must have for fans and all music lovers alike. It is also available as a CD Audio-Only double set, including pullout artwork from the show night program.

"Metropolis" and "Happy Hunting Ground" were performed by the George Ellis Orchestra only.

People who pre-ordered this CD were sent a link to download the bonus track Mr. Guy Fawkes, a cover of the Dave Miller Set classic from 1969, which was also performed at the Psychedelic Symphony show (after "Happy Hunting Ground") [ rehearsal]. Because of glitches at The Church Merch, this free offer was extended through the first week of release. In his infamous 2010 ARIA Hall Of Fame acceptance speech Steve Kilbey highlighted this song and even sung a few bars. Here's what Steve had to say about "Mr. Guy Fawkes":

In 1970 there was an english kid who came to our school.
he said he thought a lot of the stuff on australian radio was rubbish.
But there was one song he really really liked
and that was Mr. Guy Fawkes by the Dave Miller Set.
This song should have been a hit all around the world.
The cynical cellos, the strange lyrics
the distant sad telephone voice and the dreamy acoustic guitars
the weird feeling you had when the song was over
what was that emotion? you couldn't put your finger on it, could you?
a solid gold bona fide classic Australian psychedelic classic!

Steve wrote about the show and album in his blog on March 21, 2013:

today i listened to the church at the opera house
itll be coming out soon
its pretty fucking good
i didnt think we could capture it but there it is
everybody is playing a blinder
never heard peter play more explosively yet incisively
the band sound like a real band
the only ever problem is my voice
but even that is mainly (mainly) in tune
sometimes i dont get everything right
you can hear me lose my way a few times
exhaustion had set in by this stage
but i fought valiantly on even tho i was knackered beyond belief
the orchestra sounds incredible
words fail me
what a catalogue what a sound what a performance
theres a lot going on over 24 odd songs
fuck its good
i never thought a live album for us was right
till i heard this
accomplished yet still rocking
rough and smooth at the same time
maybe our definitive document
great cross section of stuff too
great to see so many songs from U23
i wish you all had it right now!
soon they tell me soon...and dvd too.....
soon......?!
but there
we can play live
we had 80 odd people all playing at once
its huge
much bigger than ben hur and twice as rockin'!

The other songs performed at the show (played right before "Tantalized" in the encores) which do not appear on the CDs or DVD were "Already Yesterday," "Invisible" and "Operetta."

Includes these photos of the band members:

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