World renowned German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk have been announced as the headline act for the 2013 edition of Sydney’s Vivid Live festival of light, music, and ideas. In a Sydney exclusive series of 8 performances, Kraftwerk will present their eight groundbreaking master works in 3D.

A concept eight years in-the-making since their initial invitation from the Venice Biennale, “KRAFTWERK – THE CATALOGUE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8” brings together three decades of the group’s most innovative music to create an audiovisual exhibition that has redefined traditional concert motifs. Using 3d projections, animation, and new improvisations, the performances showcase nearly 40 years of musical and technical innovation.

Celebrating eight studio masterworks across four evenings – Autobahn (1974), Radio-Activity (1975), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981), Techno Pop (1986), The Mix (1991) and Tour de France (2003) – this groundbreaking new performance series explores each album chronologically alongside their most iconic moments and artwork, creating the definitive Kraftwerk retrospective.

The international debut of the performance series was in April 2012 at New York's Museum of Modern Art and has since been performed in Düsseldorf (Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen) and London (TATE Modern) where it has received rave reviews. “KRAFTWERK – THE CATALOGUE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8” now invites Australian audiences to explore one of the richest histories in global sound, image culture and popular music.

Renowned as the pioneers in electronic music history, these self-described “operators” have influenced artists as unique and varied as David Bowie, Daft Punk, Kanye West, R.E.M, LCD Soundsystem, and Joy Division.  Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider began the Kraftwerk project in 1970 at their electronic Kling Klang Studio in Düsseldorf, Germany.  Within a few years they had achieved international recognition for their revolutionary electro “sound paintings” and musical experimentation with tapes and synthesizers.

Kraftwerk will appear at the Sydney Opera House from 24-27 May 2013.