The Sydney Opera House, opened in 1973 after 14 years of construction, is one of the most iconic buildings in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the building with its sail-shaped shell roofs on Bennelong Point at Sydney Harbour houses seven performance venues seating around 5,700 in total. Main residents are Opera Australia, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the Australian Ballet. With over 1,500 performances per year and more than 1.4 million annual visitors, it is one of the most visited performing arts venues in the world — and the unmistakable silhouette over the harbour is probably the most photographed theatre of all.
Construction costs exploded from estimated 7 to 102 million dollars. Architect Jørn Utzon left the project frustrated and never entered the finished building. He received the Pritzker Prize only in 2003.
At a glance
- Type
- Multi-genre theatre
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
More venues in Australia
- Melbourne Arts Centre · Multi-genre theatre, Melbourne