Sydney Opera House
Address
Sydney Opera House
GPS
-33.85719805, 151.21512338474
Opened in 1973, the Sydney Opera House stages more than 1,600 performances a year, ranging from from opera, ballet, dance to music and comedy shows, in its concert halls and theaters. In May and June, its iconic sails become a dazzling canvas for amazing light shows, such as Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.
Quick facts
- Name: Sydney Opera House
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Type of attraction: Architectural/Theater
- Built: 1973
- Ticket price: Depending on the event
Each May the Sydney Harbor plays host to Vivid Sydney, a month-long festival dedicated to light, art, and music. Australia does public art right, and it can been seen in all of its cities, but this is a masterpiece. Vivid transforms the city into a gigantic projection screen by using 3-D mapping to cast incredible images across all kinds of buildings, including the Sydney Opera House.
Its unique design made it the most recognizable symbol of Sydney and Australia. The building, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon but completed by an Australian architectural team headed by Peter Hall, was officially opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation starting with the 1957 selection of Utzon as an international design competition winner.
The Government of New South Wales, led by the Prime Minister, Joseph Cahill, authorized work to start with Utzon’s construction management in 1958. The government’s decision to construct Utzon’s design is often overshadowed by subsequent circumstances, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the final resignation of the architect.
Lunchtime performances were often arranged for the workers during the construction phase, with American vocalist Paul Robeson being the first artist to perform in 1960.
The location served as the focal point for the triathlon events during the 2000 Summer Olympics. At Farm Cove, the event had a 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swimming loop along with competitions for the cycling and running portions of the event in the neighboring Royal Botanical Gardens.
Many famous artists have performed at the Sydney Opera House from both classical and pop culture backgrounds. Its unique design became globally recognizable symbol of Sydney and Australia.
Interesting facts about Sydney Opera House
Here are some interesting facts about this amazing landmark:
- Thousands of light bulbs are changed every year inside the opera house.
- The Sydney Opera House was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2007
- The price of building of the house went from 7 million to 102 million Australian dollars.
