The very mention of Sydney conjures up the now iconic image of an elegant construct resembling a cluster of pristine sea shells gleaming in sharp contrast to the sparkling blue backdrop of the Sydney Harbour
Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour
the building of the Sydney Opera House was a labor of love that spanned over a decade. It was finally unveiled to the masses in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, the venue has become one of the busiest performing arts centres and tourist hubs in the world, drawing 7 million visitors each year.
The Sydney Opera House is actually comprised of six separate buildings of a modern expressionist design. The unique roofing is a structure of six interlocking vaults forming aesthetically pleasing shell-like shapes, covered in a cream tile that glows white in the distance. The two largest vaults shelter the Opera Theatre and Concert Hall, with the smaller “shells” housing the Drama Theatre, Playhouse, Studio and Utzon Room cluster around them. The amphitheatre-like Forecourt is a seventh performance venue utilized for outdoor performances. The architect Jørn Utzon was awarded the Pritzker Prize, the highest honour in architecture, for this triumph of human achievement.
The Sydney Opera House is the home and promoter of the four key resident performing art companies – the Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Theatre Company. It also hosts more than 700 diverse artistic and cultural events each year, for audiences of all ages.
Visitors will do well to find accommodation within the city’s central business district in order to ensure the best possible access to the Sydney Opera House, as well as Sydney’s other attractions. Sydney Apartment Accommodation is abundant within the city centre, as well as serviced apartments Sydney. Somerset Darling Harbour
