Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Helen Pitt, Allen & Unwin, $32.99.
“From the very beginning the Opera House was conceived as an ornament for Sydney—like a pendant to adorn the neck of this beautiful city.” Journalist Helen Pitt’s heartfelt sentiments brilliantly describe the 20th century’s best-known building.
It’s hard to believe, but the Sydney Opera House celebrates its 45th anniversary this month. It’s also the centenary of the birth of of Jørn Utzon, the architect of this Sydney icon.
How in the mid-50s, Australia and a man from Denmark created a sculpture on Sydney Harbour and changed the course of 20th century architecture is a remarkable read.
Construction, which began in 1959, involved 10,000 workers from 90 different countries and it took 14 years to complete. It cost $102 million and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973.
As Pitt relates the stories, we learn many details that ‘we may not have heard before. From the famous conductor and state premier who conceived the project; to the two architects whose lives were so tragically intertwined; to the workers and engineers; to the people of Sydney, who were alternately beguiled and horrified as the drama unfolded over two decades’.
There are many more fascinating facts to discover such as The House was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2007, name of the first performer to sing there in 1960, and the first party where the Easybeats were joined by some interesting guests.
Pitt has interspersed her own interviews with people involved in the project together with details accessed from diaries, letters and classified records. Revealed is an intimate back story of the building that turned Sydney into an international city’.
The white building with the sails, which dominates the harbour, is spectacular from a distance and even better when you get up close and personal. In addition to being an architectural masterpiece, it is also a vibrant performance space.
