May 27, 2010 -- Vivid Sydney, the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, starts tonight with new events and large scale urban lighting never seen before in Sydney. New South Wales Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said Vivid Sydney is a major celebration of Australia’s only global city between May 27 and June 21. “The sails of the iconic Sydney Opera House will be illuminated with a stunning light art design by Vivid Live co-curator and internationally acclaimed performance artist, Laurie Anderson,” Ms. McKay said. “Vivid Live, the centrepiece of the festival, is being curated by Laurie Anderson and legendary U.S. rock musician Lou Reed." “Sydney’s Macquarie Street, the site of Australia’s first Parliament, will also be brought to life with large scale light installations and projections,” Ms. McKay said. “Throughout Vivid Sydney there will be 30 different live street performances including fire dancers, stilt walkers, illuminated entertainers and more.