Sydney Opera House opens doors to public for 50th anniversary
Sydney, Australia, Oct 20 (EFE).- The Sydney Opera House, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007 for being “a great architectural work of the 20th century,” commemorated its 50th anniversary Friday with a laser show and the opening of its doors to the public.
The celebrations were scheduled for Friday night with a laser audiovisual show – titled “Icon” and which will highlight the beauty of this emblematic building – by Australian artist Robin Fox in which images will be seen projected into the sea surrounding the Opera House in Sydney Bay.
Additionally, for the first time in eight years, the Opera House will open its doors to the public this weekend to allow thousands of visitors free entry to its facilities to see the action behind the scenes.
The iconic center will present the world premiere of the rock concert “Bark of Millions” on Friday, by American LGBTQI+ artist Taylor Mac, while Aboriginal artist Emma Donovan will star in the musical “Aretha” as part of these celebrations.
The Opera House will also host the exclusive “Gold Party” between Friday and Sunday with cocktails and a special menu.
“A symbol around the world and a national treasure turns 50. Happy Birthday to an Australian icon,” the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote Friday on his X account (formerly Twitter) as he joined the celebrations of its official inauguration by then Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles III of England, Australia’s head of state, wrote a letter to the Opera House’s Chief Executive Louise Herron to congratulate her, the organization’s staff and volunteers on “such a memorable and successful celebration,” according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Since its opening in 1973 by my dear mother, the Sydney Opera House has been a permanent legacy to Australians, profoundly influencing contemporary arts and culture, both locally and internationally, and enjoying global recognition as a symbol of modern Australia,” he said.
Among the more than 37,000 attendees at these celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Opera House will be Jan and Lin Utzon, the eldest children of the architect Jorn Utzon, who won a competition in 1956 among 233 proposals to build this building that today gives identity to Australia.
The construction of the Opera House, which was initially going to last four years and was delayed another decade due to various budget and design problems and which led to the departure of Utzon from the project, cost about AUD102 million ($64.4 million at the current exchange rate). EFE
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