# We won a Helpmann Award for our performances of Oedipus Rex and Symphony of Psalms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851 "2010-09-06T22:52:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/1 "2010-09-06T22:52:15Z")
In [previous](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538669&highlight=oedipus) [threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550129&highlight=oedipus) I talked about my choir’s production in January this year of Stravinsky’s works \*Oedipus Rex \*and _Symphony of Psalms_. Last night was the annual Helpmann Awards ceremony. These awards are given across a range of live entertainment events (theatre, classical and contemporary music, opera etc) to recognise the best performances in Australia in the preceding year. And we won for \*Oedipus Rex \*and _Symphony of Psalms_! > [@](#): > > **Best Symphony Orchestra Concert** > > Oedipus Rex & Symphony of Psalms > **Sydney Festival with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs** Everyone’s rather thrilled, particularly as we were nominated last year (in a different category) for our [Dawn Chorus](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=500615&highlight=balmoral) concerts, but ended up missing out on the award. Major celebrations at choir practice tonight, I think! ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/2 "2010-09-07T01:25:39Z")
That totally rocks. Congrats! Slee ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/3 "2010-09-07T13:14:09Z")
That is truly great - it is hard to put awards like that in perspective for folks who don’t live in your country, like me - but I get the feeling that that award matters… ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/4 "2010-09-07T13:38:03Z")
Congratulations. I hope to see a performance of your choir, as I have decided to move to Sydney, (called to the bar). ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/5 "2010-09-07T13:51:09Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > it is hard to put awards like that in perspective for folks who don’t live in your country, like me - but I get the feeling that that award matters… They’re basically our Tonys, with a broader range of categories. It’s a huge deal. Congratulations **Cunctator**! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/6 "2010-09-07T15:13:30Z")
Congratulations! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-won-a-helpmann-award-for-our-performances-of-oedipus-rex-and-symphony-of-psalms/552851/7 "2010-09-08T01:06:01Z")
Thanks for the comments everyone. We had a lovely celebration at rehearsal last night: champagne etc. > [@Monkey\_Chews](#): > > They’re basically our Tonys, with a broader range of categories. It’s a huge deal. Congratulations **Cunctator**! I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I suppose you’re right. The Helpmann is an Australian equivalent of a Tony/Grammy type award.