Sydney Opera House Facts

Take a tour of Sydney's famous opera house

---

What are the Sydney opera house facts? Discover the secrets of Sydney's most famous landmark. Enjoy Sydney opera house tours and book your 2010 opera performance ticket



Sydney Opera House is certainly Australia's best-known building, actually, it is one of the most distinctive buildings designed and erected in the 20th century. Along with Uluru, it represents Australia abroad.

If you are as fascinated of the stunning architecture as I am, why not book one of the highly interesting Sydney opera house tours? See the Tours section on this page.

But first, I'll give you some facts.

Sydney Opera House Facts

• The opera house sits prominently on Benelong Point, surrounded by Sydney harbour on three sides. The building has been on the Unesco World Heritage List since June 2007.
• Jorn Utzorn, a Danish architect, won the design competition in 1957. His design was internationally admired as ground-breaking at that time. In my opinion, it still is.
• Construction of the opera house began in March 1959. The project was built in three stages.
  Major structual issues emerged during the process. The original budget of $ 22.9 million increased fianlly to $ 102 million.
  Difficulties, changes on the original plans, and political issues made Jorn Utzorn leave the project in 1966.
• Sydney Opera House was opened by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II on October 1973. Jorn Utzorn, the designer of the out-standing building, was not invited to the ceremony.
• The first opera performed was War and Peace by Sergei Prokofiev. The performance was on 28th September, a few weeks before the official opening of the opera house.

• The opera house is 185 m long, and 120 m wide. The roof, which resembles white sails, is covered with more than 1 million tiles.
• The Concert Hall is the largest performance venue with 2678 seats. The hall also contains a huge organ with more than 10,000 pipes. The Concert Hall is home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
• The Opera Theatre has 1507 seats and is, of course, home of the Opera Australia, and the Australian Ballet.
• Other venues are the Drama Theatre, the Play House, the Studio, and the Utzon Room.

Sydney Opera House Tours

Even if you usually don't go to the opera, ballet, or classical concerts, joining such a performance in the famous Sydney Opera house is certainly something different, and an experience to remember.
Below are a few suggestions for your personal Sydney Opera House experience. Most tours are likely to book out, so book early to avoid disappointment.

---

Sydney Opera House and Australian Ballet Dinner Package

Combine a guided tour of the opera house with a 3-course dinner, and a performance of the Australian Ballet.

For dinner, choose either the Aria Restaurant opposite the opera house at Macquarie Street, or dine at the Guillaume which is situated in the southern-most shell of the opera house.

Schedule: Seasonal - Performances: April 2010 - The Silver Rose, May 2010 - Coppelia, November 2010 - Edge of Night, December 2010 - Nutcracker.
Duration: Approximately 6 hours.

---

Sydney Opera House and Sydney Symphony Orchestra Dinner Package

A Symphony concert in the huge Concert Hall is an awe-inspiring experience. The repertoire includes classical composers like Bach & Beethoven, but also contemporary music.
Again, you have the choice of restaurants. The sample menues are mouth-watering.
Schedule: Seasonal - 2010 Performances:

February - Mahler 1

March - Fantastique! and Hall of Heroes

April - Pyrotechnica and Viva Espana

May - Harmony from Heaven and Mahler 5

June - Dance of Imagination

July - A Trumpet Blast and Best of Bernstein

August - Divine Dances

October - Rhapsody in Blue, Beethoven/Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky

Duration: At leisure. Tour starts at 5 pm, the concerts begin between 7 and 8 pm.

---

Sydney Opera House, Harbour Dinner Cruise and Opera Package

This is a very special package that includes a guided tour of the opera house, a 90-minute dinner cruise on Sydney harbour, followed by a wonderful opera experience.

Schedule: Seasonal - Performances 2010:

February - Manon, Tosca and La Traviata

March - La Traviata, Tosca, Bliss and A Midsummer Night's Dream

June - A Little Night Music

Departs: 2:45pm from Sydney Opera House Information Desk. Opera starts at 7:30pm.
Duration: Approximately 8 hours.

Looking to book an opera performance, without guided tour and inner? Check the Sydney Opera House performances, scheduled until November 2010.

---

Sydney Opera House Guided Backstage Tour

By joining this tour you have acces to areas of the building that are normally reserved for artists and staff. Imagine YOU perform on stage of the famous Concert Hall, or conduct the Symphony.
Enjoy breakfast in the Green Room (closed Sundays and Public Holidays), the private domain of the stars.
This famous tour starts early, at 7 am, to enable you to go to all the places usually reserved for the crew and the artists.

Schedule: Tour departs daily from Sydney Opera House.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours.




Hopefully, you enjoyed the Sydney Opera House Facts and tours.

---