No building on earth looks like the Sydney Opera House. Covering almost 1.82ha (4.5 acres) the Opera House is Sydney's most popular tourist attraction, and is also one of the worlds busiest performing arts centres. But the Opera House is more than a just tourist attraction, it is a presence, a part of the landscape that seems to have been there forever, and it is impossible to imagine the Harbour without it. Each time the sun shines on it just a little different than the moment before, each time the blue Harbour waters reflect off the tile and glass exterior, it seems to change personality, to change moods. Even Sydneysiders who have seen it for years are awestruck when they catch a glimpse of it through the corner of their eye.

Design

In 1957, Jørn Utzon won an international competition to design the Opera House. He envisioned a building that could be viewed from any angle- land, sea, or air- with the roofs as a "fifth façade". It presented architectural and engineering problems that had never been encountered before. When the construction began in 1959, the original design was impossible to execute and had to be greatly modified. Utzon resigned in 1966 and an Australian design team completed the building interior. An appeal fund was set up, eventually raising A$900,000, while the Opera House Lottery raised the balance of the A$102 million final cost. The Opera House took 14 years to complete and was opened in October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.

 

You can explore the Opera House by walking around it, or you can join a tour which operates daily. There are many public walkways around the Opera House that allow close up views from many different vantage points. Inside, there are three main parts to the Opera House: the Opera Theatre, the Concert Hall, and the Drama Theatre and Playhouse.

The Opera Theatre is a relatively small venue, seating only 1,547 people. The ceiling and walls are painted black to focus attention on the stage. The proscenium opening is 12m (39 ft) wide, and the stage extends back 25 m (82 ft), while the pit accommodates 75 musicians.

The Concert Hall is the largest hall, with seating for 2,690 people. It is admired for the rich concert acoustics, and the 18 acoustic rings above the stage reflect back the sound. The 10,500 pipe Grand Organ was designed and built by Ronald Sharp from 1969 to 1979. The Concert Hall is used for choral, symphony, jazz, folk, and pop concerts, chamber music, opera, and dance.

The Drama Theatre and Playhouse, seating almost 400 people, is ideal for small productions while also being able to host plays with larger casts. The stage is 15 m (160 ft) square, and can be clearly viewed from every seat in the auditorium. Refrigerated aluminium panels in the ceiling control the temperature.

There is much to see on the outside of the Opera House as well. The roof, which looks smooth from a distance, is actually made up of tile. The tiles were not fixed in place individually, but instead were installed in panels to create the smooth and continuous roof surface. On Sundays, The Monument Steps and forecourt are used for outdoor films and free entertainment, where you can listen to jazz, folk, or soft rock bands playing. Next to the Opera House are small stands where you can buy a variety of offerings, from old photographs to souvenir boomerangs. And if you feel the need to escape the crowds, the Botanic Gardens are a just a short walk away. Tours of the Opera House operate daily, from 9am to 4pm.

Raven

Want a virtual tour of the house click here