Overlooking the bustling Sydney Harbor and sitting amidst calm cerulean waters is one of the 20th Century’s most iconic buildings, the Sydney Opera House. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monumental building is a must-see if you’re staying at a luxury hotel Sydney such as the Australis Hotel , as you will not only be able to see the renowned architecture of the building but also enjoy lively performances and events.
The unique modern expressionist design of the Sydney Opera House is undoubtedly what makes it so famous around the world. The building, designed by young Danish architect Jørn Utzon, was formally declared open in 1973 after 8 years of construction. The unique roof of the opera house comprises of a set of interlocking ‘shells’ that house 6 large scale performance venues and other areas such as the northern and western foyers which are also used for performances on an occasional basis. The opera house also includes cafes, restaurants, retail outlets and its very own recording studio.
The main performance venue of the Sydney Opera House is the Concert Hall, which is also the largest of the venues with a seating capacity of 2,679. One of the other features of the Concert Hall is the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, which is the largest mechanical tracker action organ in the world. Other notable performance venues at the opera house are the Drama Theatre- a proscenium theatre with 544 seats, the Playhouse- an end-stage theatre with 398 seats and the Forecourt- an open-air venue that offers a wide range of configuration options, including the possibility of utilizing the Monumental Steps as audience seating.
There are many tours that you can take on your visit to the iconic building such as the Summerhouse Tour which will have you exploring the theatres and foyers where more than 1600 concerts, operas, dramas and ballets take place each year and the backstage tour that gives visitors a chance to see backstage areas normally reserved for performers and crew members.
One of the best times to visit the Sydney Opera House is for New Year’s Eve. The grand Concert Hall is set to come alive this 31st with the Opera Gala concert that will see popular arias by Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini and the spectacular display of fireworks that lights up not only the starry skies above, but also the midnight blue waters below…
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
