The annual festival of lights, art and ideas sounds as good as it looks, as it reaches this year’s halfway point.

Sydney’s annual festival of light, art and ideas, Vivid, is well underway. As it reaches the halfway point of the 16-day event, many of this year’s exhilarating line-up of contemporary classical, pop, jazz and folk music acts have already delighted (and in one instance lulled to sleep) audiences across the city. Performances by New Order and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Esperanza Spalding, Max Richter and Hiatus Kaiyote have enjoyed excellent box office results and critical receptions.

British composer Max Richter’s SLEEP, billed as an “antidote to the pace of the modern world”, played with tremendous success to a sold-out drowsy crowd. In a world-first 8-hour live performance conducted by Richter, audience members falling asleep was actively encouraged. Tucked up in makeshift beds at the Sydney Opera House, the audience were invited to dream to the sound of the American Contemporary Musical Ensemble and soprano Grace Davidson. Receiving rave reviews, this was a rare opportunity to visit the iconic Sydney venue in your pyjamas.

Audiences members hunker down at...