![The Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6261953371_294b337cbe_z.jpg)
As we near the end of my Sydney escapade with HTC EVO 3D, hosted by Destination New South Wales, Eunice and I caught a performance by Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House on the fifth night. This was followed by a tour of the Sydney Opera House on their Open Day the next morning, together with Willy who is back from Wollongong.
Conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House was opened in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957. Utzon received the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honour, in 2003. Today, it stands as a magnificent multi-venue performance arts centre, often seen as the icon of Sydney.
The Sydney Opera House was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007. It is one of the 20th century’s most distinctive buildings and one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world.
When we arrived at Sydney Opera House, we were greeted by Anna McDougall, the bubbly and friendly digital marketing person from Opera Australia.
Together, the three of us were watching Opera Australia’s rendition of The Merry Widow, an operetta by the Austro–Hungarian composer Franz Lehár:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR_32OGOhkw”]
Here’s a sample video of the opera piece,“Cherchez la Femme”, performed by the Opera Australia cast:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh_RWafUEoM”]
Summary:
The diplomats are desperate, the financiers are flapping and the markets are melting down. Only one thing can save the Kingdom of Pontevedro from imminent bankruptcy. Someone must marry the glamorous and very wealthy widow, Hanna Glawari! The Merry Widow waltzes into town in a flurry of ball gowns and fans, top hats and tails. Giles Havergal directs this an eye-catching new production that combines nineteenth-century glamour with twenty-first century artistry. At the heart of The Merry Widow is a love story. Hanna is the wise and beautiful widow; Danilo is the lofty idealist. Watch them spar, squabble and flirt even as the music reveals their perfect harmony. Will this obstinately unromantic couple ever get together?
Performed in English with English surtitles.
Running time: Approximately two hours and thirty minutes with one twenty-minute interval.
Opera newbies, Eunice and I were glad to have Anna around as she introduced us to the storyline, cast and various show trivia.
Anna also showed us around the Sydney Opera House during the intermission and shared with us more about Opera Australia, Australia’s largest and busiest performing arts organisation, with over 600 opera performances a year. It’s repertoire ranges from baroque to bel canto to high romantic opera to operetta and musicals to new commissions.
At the end of the performance, Anna kindly drove us back to our hotel in her car.
![The ticketing area where we met up with Anna The ticketing area where we met up with Anna](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6261941159_daab854e86_z.jpg)
![Me with bubbly Anna from Opera Australia Me with bubbly Anna from Opera Australia](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6262469980_a980b9d991_z.jpg)
![Lounge area Lounge area](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6262474450_cef241cfb2_z.jpg)
![People on the upper floor People on the upper floor](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6261944907_0016d0c8f9_z.jpg)
![View of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the lounge window View of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the lounge window](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/6262472676_74d510fd2e_z.jpg)
![Anna and Eunice in the performance hall. Strictly no photography, but we took a quick harmless shot before the performance started. Anna and Eunice in the performance hall. Strictly no photography, but we took a quick harmless shot before the performance started.](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6106/6261943169_eae6bccdc7_z.jpg)
![Intermission, you can see the performers resting in the room below Intermission, you can see the performers resting in the room below](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6262468184_f6a34c28d4_z.jpg)
The next morning, we woke up early, heading to the Sydney Opera House again, this time for their Open Day tour. Willy joined us too. We get to ride in the Mercedes convertible, sponsored by Hertz Car Rental, which Willy has been hoarding.
Our guide, Duglass informed us that the Open Day tour was very unique compared to the usual Sydney Opera House tours. Not only was it FREE, it also allows visitors access to usually restricted areas. We were able to walk on the stages which Duglass has never done in previous tours.
I was pretty impressed with the architectural marvel of the Sydney Opera House, having gawked at it both from the outside and from the inside. The tour experience was all the more memorable for Eunice and I, having just watched a performance at one of the concert hall the night before.
![Early morning jogger at the Sydney Opera House Early morning jogger at the Sydney Opera House](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6097/6261967767_6b8f8618df_z.jpg)
![Eunice and Willy busy with their HTC EVO 3D Eunice and Willy busy with their HTC EVO 3D](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6261961661_246ac07dd6_z.jpg)
![A long photography art installation outside the Sydney Opera House A long photography art installation outside the Sydney Opera House](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/6261956679_f24d725620_z.jpg)
![Spotted Alice and the Rabbit from Wonderland rushing to catch a ferry Spotted Alice and the Rabbit from Wonderland rushing to catch a ferry](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6261962503_7dc3ee36b2_z.jpg)
![The rabbit was struggling to move faster with his big fat feet The rabbit was struggling to move faster with his big fat feet](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6261969417_6337952fe1_z.jpg)
![At the ticketing area, waiting for the tour to begin At the ticketing area, waiting for the tour to begin](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/6261951067_4ab5acfe4b_z.jpg)
![The gift shop has an interesting Sydney Opera House Barbie on sale The gift shop has an interesting Sydney Opera House Barbie on sale](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6261972489_126272e893_z.jpg)
![The inside of the unique curved roof The inside of the unique curved roof](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6261967873_40d1c0d17c_z.jpg)
![Inside the performance hall where Eunice and I watched The Merry Widow the previous night Inside the performance hall where Eunice and I watched The Merry Widow the previous night](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6262493982_fecde54da9_z.jpg)
![Costumes from the set of "The Merry Widow" Costumes from the set of "The Merry Widow"](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6261950337_c067ff898b_z.jpg)
![Eunice and WIlly seated in the front row Eunice and WIlly seated in the front row](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6262492962_b4f95e7f34_z.jpg)
![Eunice, Willy and I in front of the stage Eunice, Willy and I in front of the stage](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6261961475_b83c7cfa40_z.jpg)
![Backstage Backstage](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6262490628_18753154c8_z.jpg)
![More garish set costumes on display More garish set costumes on display](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6262478258_8ccb29294d_z.jpg)
![A closer look at one of the costumes A closer look at one of the costumes](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6261956805_2ee0e3a2c5_z.jpg)
![Ballet shoes Ballet shoes](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6262477164_fb1c7b7e41_z.jpg)
![Ballet costumes Ballet costumes](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6261965257_f05b0de674_z.jpg)
![Various promotional posters Various promotional posters](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6226/6261967553_517f515634_z.jpg)
![Orchestra Assembly Room Orchestra Assembly Room](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6262493104_87a5623a88_z.jpg)
![The interior architectural design is just as interesting as the exterior The interior architectural design is just as interesting as the exterior](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6262492754_0e327e5ea0_z.jpg)
![Inside out Inside out](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6261957119_22f9a7020f_z.jpg)
![Willy taking a picture from inside Sydney Opera House Willy taking a picture from inside Sydney Opera House](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6262496292_d9d96e6a52_z.jpg)
![Sydney Harbour Bridge view from inside Sydney Harbour Bridge view from inside](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6262493028_daaf3fbd8e_z.jpg)
![Lounge area with a view Lounge area with a view](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6262481194_476fb72b4e_z.jpg)
![Interiror of the other larger performance hall Interiror of the other larger performance hall](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6211/6262476856_652ace467d_z.jpg)
![From another view From another view](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6176/6261957481_db3151d70f_z.jpg)
![Group shot Group shot](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6262483680_92c2404f54_z.jpg)
![Please be seated ladies and gentlemen Please be seated ladies and gentlemen](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6261969325_2e09b2e262_z.jpg)
![The stage The stage](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6262498720_e78504b407_z.jpg)
![Stage piano Stage piano](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6262481946_69f64ce511_z.jpg)
![The stage platform is not usually open to public, hence the four of us took this photo to mark the occasion The stage platform is not usually open to public, hence the four of us took this photo to mark the occasion](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6261950609_2b3731a735_z.jpg)
![The world's biggest organ The world's biggest organ](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6262477482_81480d51b3_z.jpg)
![What a performer would see from the stage What a performer would see from the stage](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6261971777_86aa2f7dc6_z.jpg)
![Top to bottom view of the stage area Top to bottom view of the stage area](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6262497210_f2181dc9b3_z.jpg)
![These are stereos to transmit audio back to the stage so the performers can assess themselves more accurately These are stereos to transmit audio back to the stage so the performers can assess themselves more accurately](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6262491396_3fe638dd29_z.jpg)
![The ceiling The ceiling](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/6261958423_e87ac01066_z.jpg)
![John Cleese's room John Cleese's room](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6262491260_cec8b4ceb5_z.jpg)
![Oprah Winfrey's room Oprah Winfrey's room](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/6262486638_08929af1e5_z.jpg)
![One of the many dressing rooms One of the many dressing rooms](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6262485732_16a5b09d32_z.jpg)
![One of the many wardrobe rooms One of the many wardrobe rooms](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6261960941_500ea9e4ee_z.jpg)
![Wigs room Wigs room](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6262484500_1701b77264_z.jpg)
![Kids' zone during the Open House Kids' zone during the Open House](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6262485034_0cdb7f4fa9_z.jpg)
This concluded my brush with the Arts at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Stay tuned to my next and final update. 🙂
Useful Links:
HTC Escapade featuring Willy Foo, Eunice Khong and Alvinology
Day 1 – Quad Biking, Sandboarding and 4WD Ride
Day 2 – Horse Riding, Parasailing and Dolphin Watching
Day 2 – Crave Sydney International Food Festival, Fraser Suites, Sydney by Night
Day 3 – Sunrise, Fine Dining, Harley Ride and Surfing at Bondi
Day 3 – Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb and Balla Restaurant at The Star
Day 4 – Wine and Beer Tasting, Picnic Lunch and Helicopter Ride at Hunter Valley
Day 4 – Saké Restaurant & Bar at The Rocks
Day 5 – Breakfast at Bills Darlinghurst
Day 5 – Shopping at Paddington Markets, Oxford Street and Glebe Markets
Day 5 – Golden Century Seafood Restaurant (金唐海鲜酒家) at Chinatown