Sydney Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sydney Opera House |
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50th anniversary logo
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View from the west
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Performing arts centre |
| Architectural style | Expressionist |
| Location | Bennelong Point, Sydney |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°51′25″S 151°12′55″E / 33.85681°S 151.21514°E |
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Current tenants |
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| Groundbreaking | 1 March 1959 |
| Construction started | 1 March 1959 |
| Completed | 1973 |
| Opened | 20 October 1973 |
| Inaugurated | 20 October 1973 |
| Cost | A$102 million, equivalent to A$963 million in 2018 |
| Client | NSW government |
| Owner | NSW government |
| Height | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions |
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| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Concrete frame & precast concrete ribbed roof |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Jørn Utzon |
| Structural engineer | Ove Arup & Partners |
| Main contractor | Civil & Civic (level 1), M.R. Hornibrook (level 2 and 3 and interiors) |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity |
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| Type: | Cultural |
| Criteria: | i |
| Designated: | 2007 (31st session) |
| Reference #: | 166 |
| Region: | Oceania |
| Type: | Historic |
| Criteria: | a, b, e, f, g, h |
| Designated: | 12 July 2005 |
| Reference #: | 105738 |
| Type: | Built |
| Criteria: | a, b, c, d, e, f, g |
| Designated: | 3 December 2003 |
| Reference #: | 01685 |
| References | |
| Coordinates | |
The Sydney Opera House is a famous performing arts centre located in Sydney, Australia. It sits right on the water's edge of Sydney Harbour. Many people around the world see it as one of the most unique and beautiful buildings ever made. It's truly a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture.
A Danish architect named Jørn Utzon designed the building. However, an Australian team led by Peter Hall finished its construction. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Sydney Opera House on October 20, 1973. This was 16 years after Utzon won the design competition in 1957. The government of New South Wales, led by Joseph Cahill, decided to start building in 1958. Utzon was in charge of the construction at first. The project faced many challenges, including going over budget and schedule. This eventually led to Utzon leaving the project.
The building and its surrounding areas cover all of Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. It's located between Sydney Cove and Farm Cove. It's also very close to the main business area of Sydney and the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens. The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge is also nearby.
The Opera House has many different performance spaces. Together, they host over 1,500 shows every year. More than 1.2 million people come to watch these performances. Many artists perform here, including resident groups like Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. It's one of Australia's most popular places to visit, with over eight million people coming each year. About 350,000 visitors take a guided tour of the building annually. The Sydney Opera House Trust manages the building. This is an agency of the New South Wales State Government.
On June 28, 2007, the Sydney Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's recognized as a very important cultural place for everyone in the world. It was also a finalist in the New7Wonders of the World campaign.
Contents
- What Does the Sydney Opera House Look Like?
- History of the Sydney Opera House
- Peter Hall's Role in Architectural Design
- First Performances at the Sydney Opera House
- Public Events and Celebrations
- Famous Performances
- Awards Received by the Sydney Opera House
- Images for kids
- See also
- Archival holdings
What Does the Sydney Opera House Look Like?
The Sydney Opera House has a modern, expressionist design. It features many large, curved "shells" made of precast concrete. These shells form the roofs of the building. They sit on a huge base, called a podium. Each shell is part of a sphere that is 75.2 meters (247 feet) wide.
The building covers 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres) of land. It is 183 meters (600 feet) long and 120 meters (390 feet) wide at its widest point. It stands on 588 concrete pillars that go down 25 meters (82 feet) below sea level. The highest part of the roof is 67 meters (220 feet) above sea level. This is as tall as a 22-story building! The roof is made from 2,194 pre-cast concrete sections. Each of these sections can weigh up to 15 tonnes.
Even though they look like smooth shells, they are actually concrete panels supported by concrete ribs. From far away, the roofs look completely white. But if you look closely, you'll see a pattern of 1,056,006 tiles. These tiles come in two colors: glossy white and matte cream. A Swedish company called Höganäs AB made these special tiles.
Besides the roof tiles and the glass walls, the outside of the building is covered with pink granite. This granite came from a quarry in Tarana. Inside, you'll find concrete, Australian white birch plywood, and brush box wood.
The two biggest performance areas are inside the main shells. The Concert Hall is in the western group of shells. The Joan Sutherland Theatre is in the eastern group. The smaller venues are located inside the podium, beneath the Concert Hall. These include the Drama Theatre, the Playhouse, and the Studio. A smaller group of shells on the western side holds the Bennelong Restaurant. The podium is surrounded by large open public spaces. The big stone-paved area with the steps is often used for outdoor performances.
Performance Venues and Facilities
The Sydney Opera House has many places where shows happen:
- Concert Hall: This is the largest venue with 2,679 seats. It's home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Many other concerts are held here. It has the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, which is the biggest mechanical organ in the world, with over 10,000 pipes!
- Joan Sutherland Theatre: This theatre has 1,507 seats. It's where Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet perform in Sydney. It used to be called the Opera Theatre.
- Drama Theatre: This theatre has 544 seats. The Sydney Theatre Company uses it, along with other dance and theatre groups.
- Playhouse: This theatre has 398 seats.
- Studio: This is a flexible space with 280 permanent seats. It can hold up to 400 people, depending on how it's set up.
- Utzon Room: This small room is used for parties, business events, and small shows like chamber music.
- Yallamundi Rooms: This space can host up to 400 people. It's often used for weddings or business meetings.
- Outdoor Forecourt: This is an open-air area outside the building. It can be set up in many ways. The large steps can even be used for audience seating. It's used for community events and big outdoor performances.
Other areas, like the foyers, are sometimes used for special performances too. The venues are also used for conferences, ceremonies, and social events.
Other Facilities at the Opera House
The building also has a recording studio, shops, cafes, and restaurants. You can find bars like the Opera Bar and Opera Kitchen. Guided tours are available for visitors. There's a regular tour of the public areas. There's also a daily backstage tour. This tour takes visitors to areas usually only seen by performers and crew members.
History of the Sydney Opera House
How the Project Started
Choosing the Location
Planning for the Opera House began in the late 1940s. Eugene Aynsley Goossens, who was in charge of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, pushed for a proper place for large theatre shows. The Sydney Town Hall, which was used at the time, was not big enough. By 1954, Goossens convinced the Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Cahill, to support the idea. Cahill then asked for designs for a special opera house. Goossens insisted that Bennelong Point be the site. Premier Cahill had wanted it closer to the city center.
The Design Competition (1955–1957)
Premier Cahill launched an international design competition on September 13, 1955. They received 233 entries from architects in 32 countries. The rules asked for a large hall for 3,000 people and a smaller hall for 1,200. Each hall needed to be suitable for different uses. These included operas, concerts, ballets, meetings, and lectures.
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The judges included Professor Henry Ashworth and American architect Eero Saarinen. On January 29, 1957, the winner was announced in Sydney. It was Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Saarinen chose Utzon's design from a final group of 30 entries. The prize was 5,000 Australian pounds. Utzon visited Sydney in 1957 to help oversee the project. He moved his office to Palm Beach, Sydney, in February 1963.
Utzon later received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2003. This is the highest award in architecture. The award said that the Sydney Opera House was his greatest work. It called it "one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century." It became a symbol not just for Sydney, but for all of Australia.
Building the Opera House: A Timeline
Preparing the Site
The Fort Macquarie Tram Depot was on the site at the time. It was torn down in 1958. Construction of the Opera House began in March 1959. The building process had four main stages. Stage I (1957–1959) was planning. Stage II (1959–1963) built the lower part, called the podium. Stage III (1963–1967) built the famous outer shells. These were inspired by whales jumping out of the water. Stage IV (1967–1973) focused on the inside design and construction.
Stage I: The Podium
Stage I began on March 2, 1959, with the company Civil & Civic. Engineers Ove Arup and Partners oversaw the work. The government wanted work to start quickly. They worried that funding or public support might disappear. But Utzon had not yet finished the final designs. Many big structural problems were still unsolved. By January 23, 1961, work was 47 weeks behind schedule. This was due to bad weather and problems with water drainage. Also, construction started before all the proper drawings were ready. The podium was finally finished in February 1963. Starting early caused big problems later. For example, the podium columns were not strong enough for the roof. They had to be rebuilt.
Stage II: The Roof Shells
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Podium structure complete, 1962
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Shells structure, c. 1965
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Roof and shell structure, c. 1965
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Tiles complete, c. 1968
The original design for the shells didn't have a clear shape. At first, they were thought of as parabolas supported by concrete ribs. But the engineers, Ove Arup and Partners, couldn't find an easy way to build them. Building them with concrete poured on site would be too expensive. Also, since each roof part was unique, making precast concrete sections would also be very costly.
From 1957 to 1963, the design team tried at least 12 different shapes for the shells. They wanted to find a shape that could be built affordably. Finally, they found a solution: all the shells could be made as sections of a single sphere. This idea meant that different sized arches could be made using the same mold. It also allowed many arch pieces of the same length to be placed next to each other. This created the spherical shape. There's some debate about who first came up with this idea. It was first credited to Utzon. However, it's clear that the design team worked very well together. Utzon, Arup, and Ronald Jenkins (from Ove Arup and Partners) all played a big part in developing the design.
The roof design was tested using small models in wind tunnels. This helped them understand how strong winds would affect the roof. This information was important for designing the roof tiles and how they were attached.
The company Hornibrook Group Pty Ltd built the very complex shells. They also built the rest of Stage III. Hornibrook made 2,400 precast ribs and 4,000 roof panels in a factory on site. They also created the building methods. This solution avoided expensive molds. It also allowed the roof tiles to be put together in large sheets on the ground. This was much easier than attaching them one by one high up.
The tiles themselves were made by the Swedish company Höganäs Keramik. It took three years to create the special "Sydney Tile" that Utzon wanted. Each tile is 120mm square and made from clay with a bit of crushed stone.
Ove Arup and Partners' engineer supervised the shell construction. They used an innovative adjustable steel arch to support the roofs until they were finished. This arch was developed by Hornibrook's engineer, Joe Bertony. In April 1962, it was thought the Opera House would be finished between August 1964 and March 1965.
Stage III: The Interiors
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The Concert Hall and organ
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View from the stage of the Concert Hall
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View from the stage of the Joan Sutherland Theatre
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Interior of the Studio Theatre
Stage III, which involved the interiors, began with Utzon moving his entire office to Sydney in February 1963. However, the government changed in 1965. The new government, led by Robert Askin, put the project under the Ministry of Public Works. This Ministry criticized the project's costs and time. They also thought Utzon's designs were not practical. This led to Utzon resigning in 1966.
By October 1966, the project had cost about A$22.9 million. This was less than a quarter of the final cost of $102 million. However, the estimated costs for the remaining design work were much higher.
When Utzon resigned, the second stage of construction was almost finished. Peter Hall largely took over his role. He became responsible for the interior design. Other people appointed to replace Utzon that year included E. H. Farmer, D. S. Littlemore, and Lionel Todd.
After Utzon left, the sound expert, Lothar Cremer, told the Sydney Opera House Executive Committee that Utzon's original sound design only allowed for 2,000 seats in the main hall. He said that increasing the seats to 3,000, as requested, would ruin the sound. The stage designer, Martin Carr, also pointed out problems with the stage size, artist facilities, and dressing rooms.
Major Changes to Utzon's Design
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- The main hall was supposed to be for both opera and concerts. It became only a concert hall, now called the Concert Hall. The smaller hall, originally for plays, was changed to include opera and ballet. It was called the Opera Theatre, and later renamed the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Because of this, the Joan Sutherland Theatre is not ideal for very large opera and ballet productions. A theatre, a cinema, and a library were also planned. These were later changed to two drama theatres and a smaller "in the round" theatre. These are now the Drama Theatre, the Playhouse, and the Studio. These changes happened mostly because the original competition rules weren't clear enough about how the Opera House would be used.
- The inside layout was changed. The stage machinery, which was already designed and installed in the main hall, was removed and mostly thrown away.
- The outside covering of the podium and the paving were changed.
- The glass walls were built differently. Utzon planned to use prefabricated plywood frames, but a different system was designed for the glass.
- Utzon's designs for the plywood corridors and his sound and seating designs for the main halls were completely removed. His Concert Hall design was rejected because it only seated 2,000 people, which was thought to be too few. Utzon had hired a sound expert, Lothar Cremer, and his designs for the main halls were later found to be very good. The halls built by Todd, Hall, and Littlemore have some sound problems, especially for the musicians performing. The orchestra pit in the Joan Sutherland Theatre is small and can be noisy for musicians. The Concert Hall has a very high roof. This means sound doesn't reflect back to the stage quickly. Clear plastic rings (called "acoustic clouds") were hung over the stage just before opening. This was an attempt to fix the problem, but it wasn't fully successful.
Finishing the Project and Total Cost
The Opera House was officially finished in 1973. It cost a total of $102 million. H.R. "Sam" Hoare, the director from Hornibrook in charge of the project, gave these approximate costs in 1973:
- Stage I: podium (Civil & Civic Pty Ltd) about $5.5 million.
- Stage II: roof shells (M.R. Hornibrook (NSW) Pty Ltd) about $12.5 million.
- Stage III: completion (The Hornibrook Group) $56.5 million.
- Separate contracts: stage equipment, lighting, and organ $9.0 million.
- Fees and other costs: $16.5 million.
The first cost and schedule estimates in 1957 predicted a cost of £3,500,000 ($7 million). They expected it to be finished by January 26, 1963. In reality, the project finished ten years late. It also cost 1,357% more than planned.
Workers' Actions During Construction
In 1972, a construction worker was fired. The workers, who were part of the BLF, demanded he be rehired and asked for a 25% pay raise. In response, all the workers were fired. The workers then broke into the construction site with tools. They took control of the site for five weeks. During this time, they worked 35 hours a week. Their spirits were higher, and they organized their work more efficiently. Fewer people skipped work. The workers agreed to stop their "work-in" when management agreed to their demands. They got a 25% pay raise, the right to choose their foremen, four weeks of yearly vacation, and a large payment for their efforts.
Utzon and His Resignation
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Before the Sydney Opera House competition, Jørn Utzon had won seven out of 18 competitions. But none of his designs had ever been built. Utzon's design for the Sydney Opera House was widely admired and seen as revolutionary. The judges' report in January 1957 said:
The drawings for this plan are simple, almost like diagrams. But as we kept looking at them, we became sure that they show an idea for an Opera House that could become one of the world's greatest buildings.
In the first stage, Utzon worked well with his team and the client. But as the project continued, the government asked for more and more changes. They also didn't fully understand the costs or work involved. Tensions grew because the government wanted construction to start early, even though the design wasn't finished. This led to many delays and problems as technical issues were worked out. The building was unique, and starting work before final plans were ready made design problems and cost increases worse.
After the 1965 election, Robert Askin became Premier of New South Wales. The relationship between the client, architect, engineers, and contractors became very difficult. Askin had often criticized the project before he became premier. His new Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes, was even less supportive. Elizabeth Farrelly, an Australian architecture critic, wrote that Hughes "had no interest in art, architecture or aesthetics." She suggested he saw the Opera House as a way to gain control.
Disagreements followed. One main issue was how information was shared. Utzon believed all information about design and construction should go through his office. But the clients wanted the architect, contractors, and engineers to report directly and separately to them. This greatly affected how contracts were managed and costs were controlled. Utzon wanted to choose suppliers directly, but the government insisted on open bidding for contracts.
Utzon was very unwilling to answer questions or criticism from the Sydney Opera House Executive Committee (SOHEC). However, Harry Ingham Ashworth, a committee member and original judge, strongly supported him. Utzon did not want to change some parts of his designs that the clients wanted to alter.
Utzon's skill was never doubted, even though Davis Hughes tried to make him seem like an impractical dreamer. Ove Arup actually said Utzon was "probably the best of any I have come across in my long experience of working with architects." He added that "The Opera House could become the world's foremost contemporary masterpiece if Utzon is given his head."
In 1965, Utzon worked closely with Ralph Symonds, a plywood maker in Sydney. Many respected Symonds, even though an Arup engineer warned that Symonds's "knowledge of the design stresses of plywood was extremely sketchy." By February 1966, Utzon was owed over $100,000 in fees. Hughes then stopped the funding, so Utzon couldn't even pay his own staff. Meeting notes show that after several threats to quit, Utzon finally told Davis Hughes: "If you don't do it, I resign." Hughes replied: "I accept your resignation. Thank you very much. Goodbye."
Utzon left the project on February 28, 1966. He said Hughes's refusal to pay him and the lack of teamwork caused his resignation. He later called the situation "Malice in Blunderland." In March 1966, Hughes offered him a lesser role as "design architect." This role would be under a group of other architects, with no power over construction. Utzon rejected this. Utzon left Australia and never returned.
After his resignation, there was a lot of debate about who was right or wrong. The Sydney Morning Herald first said: "No architect in the world has had more freedom than Mr Utzon. Few clients have been more patient or generous than the people and Government of NSW." Later, on March 17, 1966, the Herald changed its view. It said: "It was not his [Utzon's] fault that a series of Governments and the Opera House Trust failed to control the project... his idea was so bold that he could only solve its problems step by step... his desire for perfection made him change his design as he went along."
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The Sydney Opera House paved the way for very complex shapes in modern architecture. Its design was one of the first to use computer-aided design for complex forms. The design methods developed by Utzon and Arup are now used for many modern buildings. These include works by architects like Frank Gehry. The design was also one of the first in the world to use araldite glue for precast concrete parts. This proved the idea for future use.
It was also a first in mechanical engineering. Another Danish company, Steensen Varming, designed the air-conditioning system. It was the largest in Australia at the time. It moved over 600,000 cubic feet (17,000 cubic meters) of air per minute. It used an innovative idea: using harbor water to create a water-cooled heat pump system. This system is still working today.
Official Opening of the Opera House
Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Sydney Opera House on October 20, 1973. A large crowd attended the event. The opening was shown on television. It included fireworks and a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
Reconnecting with Utzon and Renovations
In the late 1990s, the Sydney Opera House Trust started talking with Utzon again. They wanted to make peace and involve him in future changes to the building. In 1999, he was hired as a design consultant for future work.
In 2004, the first interior space rebuilt to an Utzon design was opened. It was renamed "The Utzon Room" in his honor. This room has an original Utzon tapestry (a large woven picture) called Homage to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. In April 2007, he suggested a major renovation of the Opera Theatre. Utzon passed away on November 29, 2008.
A special memorial service was held for Utzon in the Concert Hall on March 25, 2009. His son Jan and daughter Lin attended. The service included performances, readings, and memories from important people in Australian performing arts.
Refurbished Western Foyer and accessibility improvements were finished on November 17, 2009. This was the largest building project since Utzon was rehired in 1999. Utzon and his son Jan designed it. The project improved ticketing, restrooms, and coat check areas. New escalators and a public lift made it easier for people with disabilities and families with prams to access the building. The famous paralympian athlete Louise Sauvage became the building's "accessibility ambassador." She advises on how to make the building even better for people with disabilities.
In 2013, a 60-meter-long artwork by artist Reg Mombassa was displayed at the Sydney Opera House. This artwork, called "The Gumscape, Road and Creatures triptych," covered scaffolding during renovation work.
On March 29, 2016, an original 1959 tapestry by Le Corbusier was finally put on display. Utzon had ordered this tapestry, called Les Dés Sont Jetés (The Dice Are Cast), for the Sydney Opera House. It had been with the Utzon family in Denmark for over 50 years. The Sydney Opera House bought it at auction in June 2015. It now hangs in the building's Western Foyer for the public to see.
In the second half of 2017, the Joan Sutherland Theatre was closed. This was to replace the stage machinery and do other work.
Peter Hall's Role in Architectural Design
After Utzon resigned, the Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes, and the Government Architect, Ted Farmer, put together a team to finish the Sydney Opera House. The architectural work was split among three people who formed the Hall, Todd, Littlemore partnership. David Littlemore managed construction supervision. Lionel Todd handled contract documents. The important design role went to Peter Hall.
Hall studied arts and architecture at Sydney University. After graduating, a scholarship allowed him to spend a year in Europe. During this time, he visited Utzon in Denmark. When he returned to Sydney, Hall worked for the Government Architect's office. There, he became known as a talented design architect. He designed several court and university buildings, including Goldstein Hall at the University of New South Wales, which won an award in 1964.
Hall left the Government Architects office in early 1966 to start his own practice. When asked to take on the design role for the Opera House (after at least two other architects had said no), Hall spoke with Utzon by phone. Utzon reportedly told Hall that he wouldn't be able to finish the job and that the Government would have to ask him back. Hall also asked for advice from others, including architect Don Gazzard. Gazzard warned him that accepting the job would be bad for his career because the project would "never be his own."
Hall agreed to take the role only if Utzon definitely would not return. Even so, many of his fellow architects were not happy with his appointment. They felt that only Utzon should finish the Sydney Opera House. After Utzon was dismissed, a protest march went to Bennelong Point. A petition was also passed around, even in the Government Architects office. Peter Hall was one of the many who had signed the petition asking for Utzon to be brought back.
When Hall accepted the design role in April 1966, he thought the design and plans for Stage III were well underway. Instead, he found a huge amount of work ahead of him. Many parts of the design were completely unresolved by Utzon. These included seating capacity, acoustics (sound quality), and structure. Also, Hall realized the project had gone on for nine years without a clear plan from the client. To catch up, Hall studied concert and opera venues overseas. He hired stage consultant Ben Schlange and sound consultant Wilhelm Jordan. He also built his own team. After talking with all the potential users of the building, the first review of the plan was finished in January 1967. Hall's most important conclusion was that a concert hall and an opera hall could not work well in the same space. Although Utzon had sketched ideas for the large glass walls using plywood, their structural strength was not confirmed when Hall took over. Hall was good at giving tasks to others and coordinating the work of consultants. He led the project for over five years until the opening day in 1973.
Peter Webber, a former Government Architect, wrote in his book Peter Hall: the Phantom of the Opera House that when Utzon resigned, no one was better suited than Hall to finish the Opera House design.
First Performances at the Sydney Opera House
During construction, lunchtime performances were often held for the workers. American singer Paul Robeson was the first artist to perform there in 1960. He sang "Ol' Man River".
Several performances happened before the official opening:
- The first solo piano concert was in the Concert Hall on April 10, 1973. Romola Costantino played for a special audience.
- The first opera performed was Larry Sitsky's The Fall of the House of Usher on July 25, 1973.
- The first opera in what was then called the Opera Theatre was Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace on September 28, 1973.
- The first public concert in the Concert Hall was on September 5, 1973. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra played music by Richard Wagner.
After the official opening:
- The first violin and piano concert was given by Wanda Wiłkomirska and pianist Geoffrey Parsons.
Public Events and Celebrations
In 1993, Constantine Koukias was asked to create Icon. This was a large music theatre piece for the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House.
During the 2000 Summer Olympics, the Opera House was the main spot for the triathlon events. The swimming part was in Farm Cove. The cycling and running parts were in the nearby Royal Botanical Gardens.
Since 2013, some residents from the nearby Bennelong Apartments (also known as 'The Toaster') have complained about concerts in the Forecourt. They say the noise levels are too high. In February 2017, the NSW Department of Planning fined the Sydney Opera House $15,000 for breaking noise rules at a concert in November 2015. However, the rules were changed in 2016 to allow a 5-decibel increase in noise levels in the forecourt. The residents who oppose the concerts argue that a completely new plan should have been filed instead of just an amendment.
The Sydney Opera House sails were used as a giant screen for a lightshow on October 5, 2013. This was part of the International Fleet Review in Sydney Harbour.
On December 31, 2013, for the venue's 40th anniversary, a New Year fireworks display was held for the first time in ten years. The Sydney Opera House hosted 'the biggest blind date' on February 21, 2014. This event set a new Guinness World Record. The longest-serving employee was celebrated on June 27, 2018, for 50 years of service.
On June 14, 2019, a state memorial service for former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke was held at the Sydney Opera House.
Famous Performances
- 1960 – The first person to perform at the Sydney Opera House was Paul Robeson. He sang "Ol' Man River" to the construction workers during their lunch break.
- 1973 – Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace, on September 28, 1973.
- 1973 – Opening gala concert in the concert hall with music by Richard Wagner. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. The soloist was the great Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson, on September 29, 1973.
- 1973 – The Carol Burnett Show performed comedy sketches, songs, and dances. This included Tim Conway as the world's oldest conductor.
- 1974 – Opera singer Joan Sutherland performed for the first time in the theatre that would later be named after her.
- 1978 – Irish rock band Thin Lizzy played a free concert on the steps. This was recorded as Thin Lizzy Live at Sydney Harbour '78.
- 1985 – Ray Lawler's classic Doll Trilogy.
- 1987 – Pope John Paul II gave a speech in the Concert Hall during his visit to Australia.
- 1990 – Nelson Mandela spoke to a crowd of 40,000 people. He also attended a choir performance of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica ("God Bless Africa").
- 1991 – Joan Sutherland gave her final performance.
- 1995 – Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, starring Jacqueline McKenzie as Joan of Arc.
- 1996 – Crowded House played their record-breaking Farewell to the World concert on the steps.
- 2000 – Swimmer Samantha Riley stood on top of one of the Concert Hall's shells with the Olympic Torch. She then sent the flame on its final journey to light the cauldron at Stadium Australia.
- 2003 – The Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, starring Jacqueline McKenzie and Barry Otto.
- 2004 – Canadian singer Michael Bublé performed in the Concert Hall.
- 2008 – First performance of "Angels in the Architecture" by Frank Ticheli. This wind band song was inspired by the opera house itself.
- 2009 – The first VIVID Live Music program was put together by Brian Eno.
- 2011 – Oprah Winfrey filmed her Ultimate Australian Adventure in the forecourt.
- 2020 – The first Australian performance of Six was held in The Studio theatre. This made it one of the first hit musical performances in that theatre.
Awards Received by the Sydney Opera House
- RAIA Merit Award, 1974
- Meritorious Lighting Award of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia, 1974
- RAIA Civic Design Award, 1980
- RAIA Commemorative Award, Jørn Utzon – Sydney Opera House, 1992
- National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2003
- New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2003
Images for kids
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The main Concert Hall
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Joan Sutherland Theatre interior
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The Bennelong Restaurant, located at the southernmost sail
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Bennelong Point with tram depot in the 1920s, during the building of Sydney Harbour Bridge
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Utzon's initial sketches in 1957
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Sydney Opera House shell ribs
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The glazed ceramic tiles of the Sydney Opera House
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The shells of the Opera House at night, viewed from the south
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The Concert Hall prior to renovations in 2020
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The foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, showing the internal structure and steel framing of the glass curtain walls. The final design was changed from Utzon's original plans.
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The foyer of the Concert Hall
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The building illuminated at night
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The Opera House seen from the north
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The Opera House, backed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, from the eastern Botanic Gardens
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The Opera House viewed from the south
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The steps of the Opera House
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Opening, Sydney Opera House, 1973
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The Utzon Room: rebuilt under Utzon in 2000 with his tapestry, Homage to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
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Ticket for the first performance at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, September 1973
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The Sydney Opera House during Vivid Sydney (2019)
See also
In Spanish: Ópera de Sídney para niños
- Auditorio de Tenerife – a modern structure in Canary Islands, Spain with a similar design
- Australian landmarks
- Clyde Auditorium – a modern structure in Scotland with a visually similar design
- List of official openings by Elizabeth II in Australia
- Lotus Temple – a modern structure in India with a similar design
- Man O'War Steps
- Wonders of the World
- Mathematics and art
Archival holdings
- NRS 12825 – Competition drawings submitted by Jørn Utzon to the Opera House Committee, 1956. Held by New South Wales State Archives and Records.
