Sydney is rightfully considered the most beautiful city in Australia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Sydney is located in the hills above a magnificent bay that fills with many ships all year round. The visiting card of Sydney is the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, the grandeur of which has amazed tourists for many decades. 
When we say "Australia" or "Sydney", we immediately imagine the quaint building of the Sydney Opera House. Looking like a swan or a surreal ship trying to unfurl its sails, or gigantic shells, the Opera House is the main symbol of Sydney. 
SYDNEY OPERA. The project of the Opera House is based on the desire to bring people from the world of daily routine into the world of fantasy, where musicians and actors live.
The Sydney Opera House is the only building of the 20th century to be on a par with such great architectural symbols of the 19th century as Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower. Along with Hagia Sophia and the Taj Mahal, this building belongs to the highest cultural achievements of the last millennium. 
Almost everyone has heard of the Sydney Opera House. However, few of us know that in addition to this wonderful building, the port and the port bridge are also considered the symbol of the Australian city. The ensemble of three buildings in Sydney is the subject of a “hunt” for photographers, because the view is simply amazing. It is no secret that the idea of creating such a roof for the opera was inspired by the sails in the harbor. 
Let's delve a little into the history of the creation of the Sydney Opera House and maybe understand why today this building has surpassed the port, the previous unofficial symbol of the city, in its popularity. Back in 1954, a competition was announced, the winner of which could realize his idea. Then 233 high-class specialists from 32 countries immediately wanted to participate in the competition. The little-known Dane Jorg Utzon became the architect who received the right to realize his idea. He, like almost all the other contestants, only knew about the place where the opera would be located, but had never been there. The only help for him was photographs of the area. Uzton found inspiration, which was already mentioned in passing, in the city port (he was very impressed with luxurious white sails) and, to some extent, the temple buildings of the ancient Mayan and Aztec peoples, which he visited in Mexico
The idea of Iorg Uzton turned out to be so new, one might even say revolutionary, that the builders took up it, despite the great complexity. However, the complexity was only one of the rough edges on the way to the implementation of the project - soon a new problem was discovered. With the declared cost of $7 million and the implementation period of 10 years, the builders failed to meet either the deadlines or the cost. Over 20 years, the project "ate" more than $100 million, and more than once the city council's agenda was to curtail the expensive project. It is worth recalling that at the beginning of the second half of the last century, money was worth much more than it is today. But the government men of Sydney, with exceptional ingenuity, solved the problem with a lack of funding - the Sydney Opera House was built ... at the expense of a lottery. 
Clouds were constantly gathering around the project, it was watered with a stream of criticism, and in 1966 Uzton could not stand it. Technical, financial and bureaucratic setbacks forced him to step back from the leadership of the project. The main technical difficulty, along with its aesthetic perfection, was the giant concrete sails. The architects called them among themselves "elliptical paraboloids", and in fact it turned out that there was no way to design them in their original form, respectively, the whole project had to be redone. It took many hours of work and complex technical calculations to remake the project, but in the end the opera was built. The version of the building that we see today was not only a triumph of Utzon's design, but also the embodiment of the technical thought of the Australian architects who were involved in the implementation of his idea. 
The work was completed in 1973, and the grand opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House took place on October 20 of the same year. It was attended by an unusually large number of famous people, but the main guest was the Queen of England, Elizabeth II. According to numerous reviews, it was the building of the Sydney Opera House that could not be surpassed to this day - it is considered the most beautiful building built since the end of the Second World War. Photographers and connoisseurs of all that is beautiful say that it is best to admire this miracle of architecture and design from the stern of the ship, then the building turns into a kind of castle in the air or a white-winged swan ready to take off 
The Sydney Opera House is a complex of almost 1000 rooms, home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Opera, Australian Ballet, Sydney Theater Company, Sydney Dance Company,
as well as several other small halls, one of which is located in the courtyard under the open sky. 
Those who are not completely impressed by the appearance of the Sydney Opera House are completely unsettled by the interior of the opera, the style of which has been called “space age gothic”. The theater curtain woven in France is the largest in the world. The area of each half of this miracle curtain is 93 m2. The record holder is also the huge mechanical organ of the concert hall - it has 10,500 pipes. Under the vaults of the opera, there are five halls for various performances, as well as a cinema and two restaurants at once. The opera hall can accommodate 1550 spectators at once, and the concert hall - 2700. The Sydney Opera House has become a home for a symphony orchestra, a philharmonic choir and a city theater. 
The sail-shaped shells that form the roof make this building unlike any other in the world. Now it is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Opera House in Sydney is recognized as one of the outstanding buildings of modern architecture in the world. 
The Sydney Opera House acquires its absolute charm at night - when it is flooded with lantern lights. 
The Opera House in Sydney not only raised music to new heights, but also became a symbol of the whole country. 
The port bridge and its design have always evoked smiles from the locals. Designed by Australian engineer John Job Crewe Bradfield, this bridge has gained the nickname - the clothes hanger. Officially, this functional steel structure bears his name - Bradfield Highway (Bradfield Highway). The gray color of the bridge is due to the cheapness of paint, which was used during the crisis years of the construction of the bridge - from 1923 to 1932. The total length of the bridge is 1150 meters, and the length of spans between the arched trusses is 503 meters. The maximum height of the bridge is 135 meters above the water level. Tourists walking across this bridge will enjoy superb views of the bustling port and all of Sydney. 
It's hard to imagine Sydney without the Opera! 
One of the most interesting buildings of the 20th century is located in Australia. Built in 1957-1973, the building of the Opera House in Sydney, surrounded by water, strongly resembles a sailboat. The architect of the legendary building was Jorn Utson from Denmark.
Construction history
Until the middle of the 20th century, there was not a single building suitable for opera performances in Sydney. With the arrival of a new principal conductor at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Goossens, the issue has been voiced out loud.
But the creation of the newest building for opera and orchestral purposes did not become a matter of primary importance. At this time, the whole world was in a state of recovery after the war, the Sydney administration was in no hurry to start work, the project was frozen.
Funding for the construction of the Sydney Opera House began in 1954. They continued until 1975, in total, about 100 million dollars were collected.
Cape Bennelong was chosen as the site for one of the largest cultural structures. According to the requirements, the building was to have two halls. The first of them, designed for opera and ballet performances, as well as symphonic music, was supposed to accommodate about three thousand people. In the second, with dramatic performances and chamber music - 1200 people.
Jorn Utson, according to the commission, became the best architect out of 233 who sent their work. The inspiration for the creation of the project for him was the sailing ships standing in Sydney Harbor. It took the builders 14 years to complete the project.
Construction began in 1959. This is where problems started to arise. The government demanded to increase the number of halls from two to four. In addition, the designed wings-sails turned out to be impossible to implement, so it took several more years of experimentation to find the right solution. Because of the ongoing proceedings in 1966, Utson was replaced by a group of architects from Australia, led by Peter Hull.
On September 28, 1973, the Sydney Opera House opened its gates. The premiere was the production of the opera "War and Peace" by S. Prokofiev. The official opening ceremony was already held on October 20 in the presence of Elizabeth II.
Some numbers
The constructed opera immediately immortalized itself in history. This is really a huge complex containing 5 halls and about 1000 rooms for various purposes. The maximum height of the Opera House building is 67 meters. The total weight of the building is estimated at 161,000 tons.
Opera theater halls
1 hall
The largest hall of the Sydney Opera House is the Concert Hall. It accommodates 2679 visitors. There is also a large concert organ.
2 hall
For opera and ballet performances, the Opera Hall for 1547 spectators is used. In the hall there is the world's largest theatrical curtain tapestry "Curtain of the Sun".
3 hall
The Drama Hall seats 544 spectators. Drama and dance performances take place here. Here is another tapestry curtain, also woven in Aubusson. Due to its dark tones, it received the name "Curtain of the Moon".
4 hall
The Playhouse hall is designed for 398 spectators. It is intended for theatrical miniatures, lectures, as well as use as a cinema.
5 hall
The newest hall "Studio" was opened in 1999. 364 spectators here can see plays in the spirit of avant-garde.
Since 1973, the Sydney Opera House has been used almost around the clock without interruption. In addition to lovers of culture and art, the building is loved by thousands of tourists visiting Sydney. The Sydney Opera House has become a true symbol of Australia.
Video about the Sydney Opera House
– Sydney Opera House, and even if you haven’t heard, you will certainly easily recognize the photo of this unusual sail-like structure.
Our story will take you closer to this unique building, you will find out why it has gained such popularity among tourists, and you can decide whether it deserves your attention or not.
History of the Opera House in Sydney
The history of the construction of the world-famous landmark began in the distant 1954
the year the British conductor sir J. Goossens, having arrived in work, he discovered that there was not only an opera house, but also no other sufficiently spacious room where people could listen to music.
He got excited about the idea of building and soon found a suitable place - Cape Bennelong Point, where at that time the tram depot was located.
J. Goossens did a lot of work, and so, on May 17, 1955, the Australian government announced a competition to develop a project for a new opera house. Architects from all over the world submitted their projects, but in the end the Dane won J. Watson.
Large-scale construction began, which dragged on for 14 years and instead of the originally calculated 7 million Australian dollars, it required 102 million.
In 1973, the official opening of the Sydney Opera House took place, soon after which the building became the main architectural symbol not only, but of Australia as a whole.
Top attractions - what to see at the Sydney Opera House?
Undoubtedly, the attention of people from all over the world to the Sydney Opera House is the most attracted by its easily recognizable roof, which resembles sails to some, shells to some, and others say that it is a symbol of frozen music.
Did you know? Many people think that the roof has a white surface, but in fact, some of its tiles are white, others are cream, due to which, depending on the sunlight, it can “change” color.
But besides the roof, there are many other things that make the building really outstanding. It is surrounded by water on three sides and stands on huge concrete piles. The area of the theater reaches incredible figures - 22 thousand square meters. m.!
The theater contains 4 large halls at once:
- Concert hall, which can simultaneously receive 2679 visitors;
- Opera theatre, designed for 1507 spectators, they play here not only opera, but also ballet;
- Theatre of Drama, capable of accommodating 544 people;
- Maly Drama Theater– the most comfortable hall for 398 spectators.
In addition to the main halls, the theater has many other rooms - rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, corridors, bars and restaurants.
Entertainment
Undoubtedly, the main attraction of the Opera House in Sydney is watching his outstanding plays, performances, operas and ballets. World-famous theater and ballet troupes, as well as orchestras, singers and other artists come here with their performances.
Did you know? At the same time, 4 different performances can take place in the theater!
You can find a list of upcoming events at official website of the Sydney Opera House.
If you're not an avid art lover, or have a little time to spare, but want to get to know the world-famous building, this is easy to do.
By visiting one of them, you can not only learn more interesting facts about the famous building, but also go “behind the scenes” of theatrical life, meet the actors of the troupes and even try out theatrical food. By the way, about food.
There are several good bars and restaurants on the territory of the Sydney Opera House. The most popular of them:
- Opera Bar- a bar and a restaurant, which is at the same time one of the "favorites" among the Sydney people;
- Bennelong- one of the best restaurants in Australia, whose chef is P. Gilmour, who prepares original dishes from Australian ingredients;
- Portside Sydney- the most suitable for a light snack, a cup of coffee or a dessert, a friendly family restaurant.
Also in the theater building you will find many souvenir shops, offering tourists a very wide selection of pleasant and memorable little things.
Where is the Sydney Opera House located?
The famous building is located in the picturesque Sydney harbor at Bennelong Point.
You can easily get here from anywhere in the Australian capital, as there is an intersection of sea and land transport routes nearby.
GPS coordinates: 33.856873° S, 151.21497° E.
Opening hours of the Sydney Opera House
- The theater is open to visitors daily from 9 am (Sunday from 10:00) until late in the evening.
- Prices for visiting the theater depend on the purpose of such a visit - either it will be an excursion, or you want to see this or that performance, or you just want to relax and have a delicious meal in one of the theater restaurants - in each case, the price can vary significantly.
- If you have any questions, you can contact the "Info-service" of the theater from Monday to Friday at tel. +61 2 9250 7111 or email the address [email protected]
The official website of the Sydney Opera House is www.sydneyoperahouse.com.
Sydney Opera House - interesting facts
- Author of the Sydney theater project Yu. Goossens, despite the amount of work he did, was "expelled" from Australia, since they allegedly found forbidden items of the “black mass” in him.
- The initial A$7 million for the theater was raised thanks to charity lottery.
- The famous sail-shaped roof significantly worsened the acoustics of the theater premises, and therefore it was necessary to make additional sound reflective ceilings. The roof, by the way, was also too heavy, and the builders were forced to redo the entire foundation of the theater again.
- In connection with the protracted construction, the architect of the Sydney Opera House, J. Watson, had difficulties with the Australian government, and he was forced to leave Australia. The theater was completed by another architect.
- She herself came to open the opera house in Sydney Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.
- The Sydney Theater has the longest theater curtains in the world, and its large concert hall is the largest organ on the planet.
- The Sydney Opera House is the first building in the world to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage during the lifetime of its architect.
- The building of the opera house is still not completed to the end. To prepare for the 2000 Olympics, the Australian government invited J. Watson to complete the building, but he refused. The illustrious architect never returned to Australia after the forced cessation of construction.
- J. Watson in 2003 received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for the project of the world famous theater.
- Sydney Opera House was a contender for the title of one of the 7 wonders of the world.
- So far, never not required repair of the famous building.
Sydney Opera House - Video
In this video you will learn even more information about the Sydney Opera House. Happy viewing!
The world-famous theater hides these and many other secrets behind its walls - hurry to see it, touch its secrets and touch the great musical and theatrical art that unfolds daily behind its backstage.
The Sydney Opera House has its own unique futuristic architecture, thanks to which it has become famous all over the world. The locals dubbed it not only one of the iconic sights of the city, but even the hallmark of Sydney. This love is also shared by travelers who, during a close acquaintance with this temple of art, instantly imbue it with respect. One of the most recognizable buildings on the planet hosts the best artists in the world and attracts more than 8 million visitors annually.
In March 1959, the townspeople gathered in the harbor at Bennelong Point to watch a ceremony that marked the start of construction on the Sydney Opera House. The Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who developed the project for the future building, brought a bronze tablet to Australia - on that day it was installed at the intersection of the axes of the two proposed concert halls, and from that moment work on the construction of an architectural masterpiece began. The memorial plaque can still be seen today on the steps of the theatre. Coming up with the appearance of the building, Jorn created something completely unusual: according to his idea, the roof of the building was to consist of several spheres, which gave the facade of the theater the image of a sailing ship. This decision made it possible to create amazing acoustics within its walls.
Initially, it was planned to complete the construction within four years, but due to many reasons, the implementation of the bold project was delayed by fourteen. A large number of complications led to the growing dissatisfaction of Jorn Utzon, who was not satisfied with the changes made to the original version. The offended architect left his team without seeing the final result. The young specialist appointed in his place, Peter Hall, was at first stunned by the scale of the project, but nevertheless took on the difficult task.
In 1973, a significant event took place - the Sydney Opera House opened its doors. The celebration turned out to be grandiose, especially thanks to the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, who officially announced the start of a new cultural mecca and praised the craftsmen for their amazing imagination and talent.
In total, the theater has four main rooms, designated for different events. The largest is the concert hall - enchanting concerts of symphonic music are held here with the participation of one of the largest organs in the world. Next in capacity is the opera hall (aka ballet), which is inferior to the first by 1,000 seats, accommodating 1,500 people within its walls. The remaining two can accommodate 400-500 people, and they are intended for dramatic productions. Each has the usual theater setting: a red velvet curtain and seats of the same shade, an elegant crystal chandelier that pours soft light - a worthy decoration for an outstanding opera house.
It is important to note that the doors of this temple of art are also open to young people: the theater hosts musical performances by various rock / indie / techno bands, as well as performances by illusionists and themed Christmas events.
And the landmark of the entire Australian continent. What can I say, even within the whole world, this is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings. The sail-like shells that form the roof of the theater make it unique and unlike any other building on Earth. Since the building is surrounded by water on three sides, it looks like a frigate sailing.
The Opera House, along with the famous Harbor Bridge, is the hallmark of Sydney, and, of course, all of Australia is proud of it. Since 2007, the Sydney Opera House has been considered a World Heritage Site and is under the protection of UNESCO. It is officially recognized as an outstanding building of world modern architecture.
History of creation
The Sydney Opera House (see photo in the article) was opened in October 1973 by the English Queen Elizabeth II. The building was designed by a Danish architect in 2003 and he received it for it. The project proposed by Utzon was very original, bright and beautiful, fan-shaped roofs towering over the bay gave the building a romantic look. As the architect himself explained, he was inspired to create such a project by the peel of an orange, cut into sectors, from which it was possible to make hemispherical and spherical figures. Indeed, everything ingenious is simple! Experts noted that initially the project did not give the impression of a real architectural solution, but was more like a sketch. And yet it was brought to life!
Construction
In the place where the Sydney Opera House is now located (the territory of Bennelong Point), until 1958 there was a simple tram depot. In 1959, the construction of the Opera began, but seven years later, in 1966, Jorn Utzon left the project. The architects from his team continued to work, and in 1967 the exterior decoration was completed. It took another six years to bring the building to perfection and complete the decorative work. Utzon was not even invited to the opening of the theater in 1973, and the bronze plaque located near the entrance to the building does not contain his name. Nevertheless, the Sydney Opera House itself serves as a monument to its author and creator; every year it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is worth noting that the building is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Architecture
The building covers an area of 2.2 hectares, the length of the structure is 185 meters, and the width reaches 120 meters. The building as a whole weighs 161,000 tons and stands on 580 piles, lowered to a depth of twenty-five meters into the water. The Sydney Opera House is made in the style of expressionism with its inherent innovative and radical design. The roof frame includes two thousand concrete sections interconnected. The entire roof is clad in beige and white ceramic tiles, creating an interesting movement effect due to this combination of colors.
Inside the theater
Sydney Opera has five main halls that host symphony concerts, theater and chamber performances, the building also has an opera and small drama stage, a theater studio, a drama theater, a simulated stage and the Utzon Room. The theater complex also contains other halls for various events, a recording studio, four gift shops and five restaurants.
- The main concert hall can accommodate 2679 spectators, it also houses a symphony orchestra.
- The opera stage is designed for 1547 seats, the Australian Ballet and the Australian Opera also function here.
- The Drama Theater seats up to 544 people and performs performances by artists from the Sydney Theater Company and other groups.
- The Small Drama Stage is perhaps the most comfortable hall of the Opera. It is designed for 398 spectators.
- The theater studio is a reconfigurable hall that can accommodate up to 400 people.
Sydney Opera House: interesting facts
At the Opera, the largest in the world hangs, which was specially made in France according to the sketch of the artist Coburn. It is called the "Curtain of the Sun and Moon", and the area of each half is 93 square meters.
In the Main Concert Hall of the theater there is the world's largest mechanical organ with 10.5 thousand pipes.
The building's electricity consumption is equivalent to that of a city of 25,000 people. Every year, 15.5 thousand light bulbs are replaced here.
The Sydney Opera House was built largely thanks to the proceeds from the State Lottery.
Every year, the Opera hosts about three thousand concerts and other events, which are attended by up to two million spectators annually.
For the general public, the Sydney Opera House is open 363 days a year, it is closed only on Christmas and Good Friday. On other days, the Opera operates around the clock.
Although the stepped roof of the Opera is very beautiful, it does not provide the necessary acoustics in the concert halls. The solution to the problem was the construction of separate ceilings that reflect sound.
The theater has its own opera written about him in the program. Its name is "The Eighth Wonder".
Paul Robeson was the first singer to perform on stage at the Sydney Opera House. Back in 1960, when the theater was under construction, he climbed onto the stage and sang the song "Ol' Man River" to the diners of the workers.
In 1980, Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Main Concert Hall of the theater received the title of "Mr. Olympia" in bodybuilding competitions.
In 1996, when the Crowded House group gave a farewell concert at the Sydney Opera House, the largest number of spectators in the history of the theater was recorded. This concert was broadcast in all corners of the planet on television.
Finally
The Sydney Opera House is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. On both sides of the ocean, many people conclude that this is the most beautiful and outstanding structure that was built in the twentieth century. It's hard to disagree with this statement!
