One of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the Sydney Opera House adds extra sparkle to an already dazzling harbor. It gazes confidently out to sea from its perch on Bennelong Point, brazenly accepting the adulation of its many adoring fans. The captivating curves of its sails play tricks on admiring eyes, appearing simultaneously bigger and smaller than you may have imagined.
Drama in the Making
The creation of the Sydney Opera House was dramatic enough to have spawned its own opera, The Eighth Wonder, which has completed three seasons at the house since its 1995 debut.
The building's tumultuous story started with an international competition, launched by the NSW premier in 1955 and won by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. His striking design of interlocking shell-like structures gives the impression of billowing sails. However, this being Australia, less reverential comparisons have been made over the years (nuns in a rugby scrum and the sexual congress of turtles, among them).
At first sight, under the summer sun, the sails appear as a dazzling expanse of solid white. But come closer and you'll see that they're actually clad with alternating matte-cream and glossy-white tiles, arranged in chevron patterns – nearly a million of them in total.
Construction started in 1959 and was expected to last four years, but after cost blowouts and much politicking, Utzon quit in 1966. The building was eventually opened in 1973 by a windblown Queen Elizabeth II, without any of Utzon's original interior designs.
Utzon famously never saw the finished building. In 2004, he and his son Jan were commissioned to work on renovations to the interior, but he never made it back to Sydney and died in Denmark in 2008.
Beneath the Sails
Of the various performance spaces within the Opera House, the largest and grandest is the Concert Hall, with seating for 2679 people. Home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, it was thoroughly renovated in 2022 in preparation for the building's 50th birthday, and its angular golden-hued interior is now looking and sounding better than ever. Its 10,000-pipe tracker-action organ is the largest of its kind in the world.
Next up, size-wise, is the 1507-seat Joan Sutherland Theatre, named after Sydney's greatest-ever opera singer. Both Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet make themselves at home here. Three smaller theaters are tucked away downstairs: the Studio, Playhouse and Drama Theatre. Smaller ensembles also perform in the intimate Utzon Room, an open space with views over the harbor and a colorful tapestry designed by the great man himself.
Forecourt & Broadwalks
Utzon credited Mayan and Aztec temples with his inspiration for the Monumental Steps leading up to the Opera House from the Forecourt. This large open space has played host to royalty, pop stars and a pope. Up to 6000 people can be accommodated here for ticketed events, although a charity gig by Crowded House in 1996 was said to have drawn a crowd of around 150,000.
Events are also held on the Northern and Western Broadwalks, which wrap around the house and offer remarkable city and harbor views.
Tours
A range of guided tours of the building is offered, the most popular being the daily, hour-long Sydney Opera House Tour (multiple languages; adult/child $50/30). The most comprehensive is the two-hour Backstage Tour (English only; $199), run daily at 7am; bookings essential. There's also an hour-long Architectural Tour (adult/child $60/33), which kicks off at 8.15am and 10am on Saturday mornings.
