Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Exploring Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House covers almost 2 ha (4.5 acres),
and is the fourth building to stand on this prominent
site. Underneath the ten spectacular roofs of varying
planes and textures lies a complex maze of more than
1,000 rooms of all shapes and sizes. It is constantly
evolving: the newest space is The Studio, dedicated to
innovative, contemporary performing arts.
25 m (82 ft), while the orches-
tra pit accommodates up to
70-80 musicians. It is
rumoured that Box C plays
host to a resident ghost.
CONCERT HALL
The rich concert acoustics
under the vaulted ceiling of
this venue are much admired.
Sumptuous Australian wood
panelling and the 18 acoustic
rings above the stage clearly
reflect back the sound. The
10,500 pipe Grand Organ was
designed and built by Ronald
Sharp from 1969-79.
Sydney Dance Company poster
(160 ft) square, and can be
clearly viewed from every seat
in the auditorium. Refrigerated
aluminium panels in the ceiling
control the temperature.
The Playhouse is used for
small cast plays, lectures and
seminars, and is also a fully-
equipped cinema. The
Sydney Theatre Company
(see
p69)
puts on at least one
performance here every year.
Coppelia
in the Opera Theatre
OPERA THEATRE
The relatively compact size
of this venue is a bonus for
patrons who savour intimacy.
Stage designers continue to
demonstrate the opera theatre's
great versatility for both opera
and dance. The proscenium
opening is 12 m (39 ft) wide,
and the stage extends back
DRAMA THEATRE AND
PLAYHOUSE
The Drama Theatre was not
in the original building plan,
so jackhammers were brought
in to hack it out of the
concrete. Its stage is 15 m
BACKSTAGE
Artists performing at the
Opera House have the use of
five rehearsal studios, 60
dressing rooms and suites and
a green room complete with
restaurant, bar and lounge.
The scene-changing machin-
ery works on very well-oiled
wheels; most crucial in the
Opera Theatre where there is
regularly a nightly change of
performance, with an average
of 14 operas being performed
in repertoire each year.
John Olsen's
Salute to Five Bells
(1973) in the Concert Hall foyer
TIMELINE
1955
International design
competition announced
1948
Sir Eugene Goossens
lobbies government and
Bennelong Point is chosen
as opera house site
1957
Utzon's design wins
and a lottery is established
to finance the building
1963
Building of
roof shells begins
Roof in mid-
construction
1973
Opera House
officially opened by
Queen Elizabeth II
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1959
Construction
begins
1963
Utzon
opens Sydney
office
1967
Concrete roof
shells completed
1966
Utzon resigns. Australian
architects appointed to
complete interior design
1973
Prokofiev's opera
War
and Peace
is the first public
performance in Opera House
Old tram shed at
Bennelong Point
