The Iconic Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a word reknown premier performing arts centre. It is one of the most recognized symbols of Australia and Sydney in Particular. It was created by a young Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, who saw the potential of the stunning location near Sydney Habour. Jørn Utzon recieved the Pritzker Prize in 2003, architecture’s highest honour. The citation stated
“ There is no doubt that the Sydney Opera House is his masterpiece. It is one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century, an image of great beauty that has become known throughout the world – a symbol for not only a city, but a whole country and continent”.
Sydney Opera House was inscribed in the World Heritage List in June 2007: “Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century. It represents multiple strands of creativity, both in architectural form and structural design, a great urban sculpture carefully set in a remarkable waterscape and a world famous iconic building.” UNESCO
The Sydney Opera House is located near the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Bennelong Point. It is on the north eastern side of the Sydney CBD and is specatacullaly surrounded on three sides by the harbour. (Sydney Cover and Farm Cover. The Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens are only a stone throw away.
The Sydney Opera House is a major tourist attraction and is the presenting venue for Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony, as well as hosting many touring productions in a variety of performance genres. It is administered by the Sydney Opera House Trust, under the New South Wales Ministry of the Arts.
Performance venues and facilities
The Opera House houses the following performance venues:
* The Concert Hall, with 2,678 seats, is the home of the Sydney Symphony, and used by a large number of other concert presenters. It contains the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, the largest mechanical tracker action organ in the world, with over 10,000 pipes.
* The Opera Theatre, a proscenium theatre with 1,507 seats, is the Sydney home of Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet.
* The Drama Theatre, a proscenium theatre with 544 seats, is used by the Sydney Theatre Company and other dance and theatrical presenters.
* The Playhouse, an end-stage theatre with 398 seats.
* The Studio, a flexible space, with a maximum capacity of 400 people, depending on configuration.
* The Utzon Room, a small multi-purpose venue, seating up to 210. It is the only interior space to have been designed by Utzon, having been renovated in 2004 under his direction.
* The Forecourt, a flexible open-air venue with a wide range of configuration options, including the possibility of utilising the Monumental Steps as audience seating, used for a range of community events, Live Sites, and special-occasion performances.