Sydney Opera House Like a Local

May 14, 2014 | Updated: October 31, 2014 | By Elizabeth | Reply More

When I first met her she was a sweet young thing – all gleaming white and nearly brand new.

I’ve been in love with the Sydney Opera House since I first laid eyes on her soaring white sails perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour.

That was in 1975. She was two years old and well on her way to becoming the most famous landmark in the Southern Hemisphere. Time called her “Australia’s own Taj Mahal” and her stunning image graced the covers of magazines worldwide.

It was my first visit to Australia – and so, of course, I took a tour of “the House.” Little did I know that a dozen years later I would be asked to write Frommer’s Australia. This project and subsequent revisions of the book meant that I spent more than a decade in and around “the land down under.”

Sunrise on the Sydney Opera House.

During this time, I became intimately acquainted with the object of my affection, and I suggested – actually begged – my readers to go beyond the obvious touristy thing of taking a tour.

I suggested they grab a sandwich at a nearby deli and enjoy it on the waterfront behind the Sydney Opera House. I also recommended the craft market in front of the House on Sundays – and dining in one of her restaurants any day of the week.

The north side of the Sydney Opera House is a great place for
lunch with a “beaut” view of passing sailboats and myriad other watercraft.

But most of all, I encouraged travelers to attend a performance at the Sydney Opera House because this is really the only way to thoroughly absorb the charm of this beautiful space. It is also a great way to experience Sydney like a local, to be an authentic traveler – not a tourist.

I mention this now because I have just received the schedule for upcoming operas at the House. If you are headed down under in the next few months, I hope you’ll consider grabbing some tickets. If Sydney is on your bucket list, but not on your 2014 calendar, please know that you can always peruse current offerings at the Sydney Opera House box office web site. In addition to operas, the line-up includes concerts, plays and special events.

Enjoy the Sydney Opera House like a local – see a show!

So here’s what on at the Sydney Opera House (straight out of the press release I just received from Opera Australia):

Australian star soprano Emma Matthews features in a glamorous new production of Rigoletto, which premieres in Sydney from June. From its lavish opening party scene, through to its closing moments of heartbreak, it features spectacular staging well matched by immense operatic talents, including renowned Italian opera stars Giorgio Caoduro and Gianluca Terranova, together with Australia’s own José Carbó.

The operatic masterpiece Otello opens in early July, featuring New Zealand star tenor Simon O’Neill in the title role. O’Neill, who learned the role from Placido Domingo himself, makes his debut with Opera Australia performing opposite sensational soprano Tamar Iveri, who performs the role of the beautiful Desdemona. Romanian maestro Christian Badea returns to conduct with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.

Teddy Tahu Rhodes has been called ‘the Brad Pitt of opera” (!). His striking looks, seductive swagger and magnificent voice suit him well as the original casanova, Don Giovanni. Opening in July, this is a new Don Giovanni fit for a 21st century audience, by Britain’s #1 opera director Sir David McVicar who makes his Australian debut. Glamorous Russian soprano Elvira Fatykhova returns to the Australian stage to perform opposite Teddy, as the love-struck Donna Anna.

Enjoy!

Elizabeth Hansen