Sydney: Opera House

Country: Australia
State: New South Wales
City: Sydney
Location: Bennelong Point

Built from 1959 by the Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, who resigned after political and financial problems in 1966. Completed until 1973 by E. H. Farmer, Peter Hall, Lionel Todd, and David Littlemore. Acoustical consultants: V. L. Jordan and N. V. Jordan. Opened 20 Oct 1973 with Prokofiev's opera "War and Peace".

The complex includes five halls for approximately 5500 visitors, and 1000 rooms overall. Originally intended for opera performances, the biggest hall with 2697 seats is used as "Concert Hall" due to its insufficient acoustics. A smaller hall with 1547 seats is used for opera performances.

Link: www.soh.nsw.gov.au

[Sydney: Opera House] Picture: Opera House construction site
Reverse Text: "Sydney Opera House N. S. W. - Under construction at Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour. Its unique design consits of shell vaults inspired by yachts on the Harbour. It covers an area of 7 acres; maximum height, 230 ft.; weight of shell roofs, 21.000 tons, and of the concourse, 10.000 tons."
Publisher: National View by Murfett Publishers, Australia
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "Opening Day at the Sydney Opera House, October 20th, 1973."
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "Sydney Opera House - Situated at Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour, its unique design consists of shell-like sails inspired by yachts on the Harbour. It covers an area of 7 acres, maximum height 230 feet, weight of shell roofs, 21,000 tons, and of the concourse, 10,000 tons."
Publisher: National View by Murfett Pty. Ltd. Australia
Size: Classic
Sent: from Australia to Wien (Austria) [no postmark]

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "View towards the Harbour Bridge across the entrance steps to the Sydney Opera House, N.S.W."
Publisher: John Sands Pty. Ltd., Sydney
Size: Modern
Sent: from Sydney to Lexingstone (USA), 1974

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "Sydney Opera House - One of the most outstandingly designed buildings in modern history."
Publisher: Werner Bartel, Sydney
Size: Modern
Sent: from Sydney to Kloten (Switzerland), 1980

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "Sydney, New South Wales, Aerial view of the Sydney Opera House with backdrop of City and Sydney Tower"
Publisher: Nucolorvue Productions Pty. Ltd.
Size: Modern
Sent: from Australia to Wuppertal (Germany), 1982

[Sydney: Opera House] Front Text: center: "Sydney Opera House, Australia", frame, clockwise starting above left: "Curtain of the Sun", "Bennelong Point", "Opening Day 20/10/1973", "Harbour Restaurant", "Northern Foyer", "Opera House at dusk", "Curtain of the Moon", "Pleasurecraft"
Reverse Text: "Sydney, Australia, Interesting aspects of the Sydney Opera House"
Publisher: Nucolorvue Productions Pty. Ltd., Australia
Size: Modern
Sent: from Rushcutters Bay to Dresden (Germany), 1987

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - Opera House at dusk"
Publisher: David Messent Photography
Size: Modern
Sent: from Warnambool to Limburg (Germany), 1993

[Sydney: Opera House] Reverse Text: "The moon in its simplicity is the perfect compliment to the original design of the Sydney Opera House"
Publisher: Bartel Collectors World
Type: Moonlight Card
Size: Modern
Sent: from Northgate to Leverkusen (Germany), 1994

[Sydney: Opera House] Front Text: "Concert Hall - Sydney Opera House"
Reverse Text: "Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House - This magnificent Concert Hall has 2,679 seats. Its Grand Organ is the largest mechanical action organ in the world with over 10,500 pipes."
Publisher: Suzie Thomas Publishing, Sydney; 95/310
Size: Modern
Sent: from Australia to Bogen (Germany), 1996

[Sydney: Opera House] Front Text: "Sydney Opera House"
Reverse Text: "Sydney - Australia, A view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the lawn of Government House"
Publisher: Suzie Thomas Publishing, Sydney
Size: Modern
Sent: from Sydney to Ravensburg (Germany), 2002

Reverse detail: Stamp (Australia, 20 June 2000)
[Sydney: Opera House]


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