Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is a masterpiece of human creative genius and a daring and visionary experiment that has an enduring influence on the emergent architecture of the late 20th century.

Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon , the building was formally opened on 20 October 1973.




The two main halls are arranged side by side, with their long axes , sightly inclined from each other.
The glass walls are a special feature of the building, constructed according to the modified design by Utzon's successor architect.


The vaulted roof shells were designed by Ulzon in collaboration with internationally reowned engineers Ove Arup & Patners with the final shapes of the shells derived from the surface of the single imagined sphere.The glass walls are a special feature of the building, constructed according to the modified design by Utzon's successor architect.



                     
                                                  Sydney Opera House inside view

The history is as controversial as its design.In 1956 the New South Wales Government called an open-ended international design competition and oppointed an independent jury, rather than commissioning a local film.

The main requirement of the compition berif was a design fortwo performance halls, one for Opera and one for symphony concerts.



                                   
                                                  Studio inside the Sydney Opera House


The design solution and construction ofthe shells took over three years.The project was not helped by the changes to the brief.

The design and the construction of the shell structure took 8 years to complete and the development of the special ceramic tiles took 3 years.





Concert halls has 2679 seats , the home of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and used by a large number of other presenters.
It contains the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, the largest mechenical traker action organ in the world . It has nearly 10000 pipes.

Joan Sutherland Theatre has 1507 seats.Until 16th October it was known as Opera Theatre.

Drama Theatre has 544 seats, used by Sydney Theatre Company and the other dance and theatrical presenters.

Playhouse has an end stage theatre with 398 seats.

Studio has a maximum capacity of 400.

Recording Studio

Outdoor Forecourt: A flexible open air venue with a wide range of confriguation options, including the possibilities of utilizing the Monumental Steps as audience seating , used for a range of community events and major outdoor performances.