THE OPERA HOUSE : BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
(By Subbaram Danda)
The Opera House is a distinctive multi-venue centre for performing arts standing majestically on a scenic site in the harbour of Australia’s premier city of Sydney. Its roof is imaginatively designed like a cluster of soaring white sails artistically placed, glistening brilliantly against the blue sky. It is regarded as “one fantastic piece of architecture.” In 2007, when it received UNESCO’S prestigious World Heritage Site status, it was the youngest edifice of its kind in the world.
As one drives down the main road and enters the precincts of the Opera House with a tastefully laid out promenade, an astonishingly picture-perfect vista opens up. On one side, sky-scrapers in different shapes and styles stand towering over each other offering an excellent view to behold. The harbour waters sway in huge ripples as boats, ferries and a variety of other sea craft sail past. Straight ahead at a distance lies the famous bow-shaped elegantly-ribbed Harbour Bridge forming an excellent backdrop. In the foreground a running curved concrete bench along the shoreline allows people to sit, chit-chat, refresh or take photos. On the other side, the large sails of the great architectural masterpiece beckon the visitors.
The Sydney Opera House
Perfect harmony
Experts say that the entire structure has a “pleasing sculptural quality” that allows it to be viewed and admired from any side or angle. More important, its overall design and the exterior finish, especially the neatly tiled sails, blend in perfect harmony with the surroundings, particularly its elder neighbour Harbour Bridge.
It all started in mid-1950s, when the authorities and lovers of performing arts decided to give a concrete shape to their long-felt need for an innovative and avant-garde centre for such arts in Sydney. Subsequently, they invited entries from all over the world for its design. There was a flood of 233 entries from experts in 33 countries. Finally, the design of a Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who had submitted only a sketch with scanty details, was chosen in view of its “revolutionary, bold and ground-breaking” concept. Work on the Opera House began in 1959.
But its progress was chequered, marked by hurdles and more hurdles of every kind at every stage. First of all, reliable technology to construct the sails was not available and had to be developed. Structural problems, changes to original plans, political intrigues, fund-raising difficulties and cost escalation all cast a dark spell on the project.
Pressures and resignation
Utzon faced “frustrating pressures,” which he could not counter. Ultimately, he resigned and left Sydney in 1966. However by then, he had managed to supervise and complete construction of the basement and the vaulted shells in their essentials. Then other professionals took over.
Finally, in October 1973 Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the Opera House, but unfortunately Jorn Utzon was not even invited to the ceremony. And he never re-entered Sydney nor told his side of the story to anyone. He died in 2008 at the age of 90.
Contrary to what its name indicates, the Opera House hosts not just operas but a variety of other performances too. In fact, there are several covered venues under the sails – the Concert Hall, the Opera Theatre, the Drama Theatre, the Playhouse, the Studio and the Utzon Room. They cater to every artistic taste – symphonies to rock concerts, ballets to contemporary dances, cabarets to Shakespeare, films to experimental theatre, and children’s skits to corporate presentations. And there is an open-air Forecourt too for events of other types, including the New Year Eve bash.
Warm play of colours
Of all the spaces, the interior of the Concert Hall is arrestingly attractive. As patrons enter it, its vaulted ceiling, overwhelmingly spacious atmosphere and a colour scheme of golden yellow, brown and red greet them with inexplicably pleasant warmth. Artistically laid-out rows of seats made of birch timber and upholstered in red woollen add to the overall cozy ambience. The concert platform with a floor area of more than 2,000 square feet holds everyone’s attention. The largest venue in the complex with a maximum seating capacity of 2,679, it is “designed primarily for acoustic performances.”
The interior of the Concert Hall
While the other halls too have their own individual characteristics, the Utzon Room has a ring of specialty about it. Originally called Reception Hall, it was refurbished after Utzon was re-engaged some years later “to develop a set of design principles to serve as a guide for all future changes to the building.” Though he did not visit Australia, he ensured that the relatively small multi-purpose venue had his signature features. It was turned into a stunningly light-filled space. Another highlight is a specially-made floor-to-ceiling tapestry depicting colourful paintwork. It is also known for its “quality acoustics.”
Another place that deserves a special mention is the Forecourt, a vast open-air area in front of the first two adjacent performance venues commanding a breathtaking view of the harbour. With a cobblestone surface, the spectacular space is used for staging a variety of events. A long array of wide granite “monumental steps” leading up to the two venues allows a natural amphitheatre style of seating.
Eternal grandeur
The Opera House was completed several years after its scheduled date, and its cost jacked up to ten times more than the first estimate. Despite its roller-coaster ride, light at the end of the tunnel bathed it brilliantly unfolding its eternal grandeur. The “daring and visionary experiment” resulted in creation of “an icon of immense beauty.” In the opinion of UNESCO, it brought together “multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design.” Jorn Utzon received the architecture world’s highest honour of Pritzker prize.
The Opera House conducts more than 3,000 events every year and has an annual audience of two million people attending its performances. For tourists too, it is one of the most popular attractions with more than seven million men, women and children visiting it.
September 17, 2011 (999 words)
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