Time travel Sydney Opera House’s 50 years of fascination

Sydney Opera House is one of the 20th century’s most iconic buildings. Since its opening in 1973 it has made Australia famous around the globe, attracting 10.9 million visitors per year.

But its story began 15 years earlier, as its conception, architecture, construction and cost made headlines and, at times, left Australians wondering if they would ever see the project finished.

In 1954, it was decided that Sydney, being a major city, needed a significant performance venue. A year later, a competition to design an opera house was held attracting 223 entries, the winning design coming from Jørn Utzon, an unknown 38-year-old Dane.

The opera house was supposed to cost seven million Australian dollars and be finished in 1963, but the design was repeatedly remodelled by Utzon, the engineers Ove Arup and Partners, and the Sydney Opera House committee.

With costs spiralling, the end date moved ever further away until eventually, under increasing political pressure, Utzon resigned from the job, closed his office and vowed never to return to Australia.

The Opera House was finally opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II on October 20, 1973. It was 10 years overdue and, at $102m, 14 times the original budget.

During its lifetime, it has had many monumental moments – its first production was Prokofiev’s epic War and Peace, performed by the Australian Opera.

The Opera House’s repertoire also extended far beyond opera, ballet, symphonic music and theatre with performances of jazz, including Sammy Davis Jnr in 1977 and Ella Fitzgerald in 1978, as well as putting on a wide variety of pop and rock shows.

To celebrate Australia’s favourite building’s past, present and future, the Opera House is hosting a year-long festival of over 230 events celebrating five decades of creativity including outdoor concerts and performances by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

sydneyoperahouse.com