1991
Final performance of Dame Joan Sutherland in Les Huguenots
After dominating the international opera stage for more than 30 years, La Stupenda, as Australia’s Dame Joan Sutherland is affectionately known, takes her historic final bow in a gala farewell performance of Les Huguenots at Sydney Opera House.
1992 (1 August)
Jørn Utzon wins Wolf Foundation Prize
Jørn Utzon is awarded the Wolf Foundation Prize in Arts (Architecture), recognising 'qualities existing well beyond the range of passing fashion, qualities that enhance use, transform construction and liberate the mind.'
1993
Upgrade Program Continues
The roof sails are refurbished, which involves the resealing of some 16.5km joints between the roof tile lids.
The Opera Theatre shuts from 31 October to 26 November to enable the second stage of the venue’s orchestra pit extension to be completed; the work was carried out for 24 hours a day at times.
1993 (17 March)
Underground car-park opens
The underground car park for Sydney Opera House with a capacity of 1,100 cars is officially opened by NSW Premier and Treasurer John Fahey, at a cost exceeding $40 million.
1993 (4 March)
Bronze plaque to honour Utzon is unveiled
A bronze plaque honouring Jørn Utzon is unveiled at Sydney Opera House by his daughter Lin in the presence of Hon. Peter Collins, NSW Minister for the Arts. In correspondence between the Sydney Opera House Trust and Utzon, Utzon insisted the plaque not be about himself but should be a demonstration of the spherical solution.
1993
Sydney Opera House establishes Conservation Council
The Sydney Opera House Conservation Council is established as a body to provide advice on the care, control and maintenance of the building. Membership includes a SOH Trustee, SOH General Manager, Government Architect, an eminent architect, and eminent engineer from private practice or academia, a nominee of the Ministry for the Arts and a member of the Sydney Opera House Executive with responsibilities for the building.
1994 (1 November)
‘Unseen Utzon’ exhibition opens
The ‘Unseen Utzon’ exhibition opens at Sydney Opera House, 1 November, presented jointly with the State Library of New South Wales and largely based on the Utzon collection.
The exhibition reveals Jørn Utzon’s designs for the interiors of the building that would have been realised if he had continued to work as Sydney Opera House architect.
The most popular exhibit was the computer modelling of the two major halls, now the Concert Hall and the Opera Theatre, created by architecture student Philip Nobis from Utzon’s concepts. Presented on a large screen, the images showcased Utzon’s designs in rich colours and decorative acoustic elements.
The designs were celebrated in a visitors’ book with comments by many of the 25,553 people who saw them. Utzon himself had the last word. In a letter to Nobis, shown at the exhibition he wrote: “It is a long forgotten story. The important thing is that the Sydney Opera House is such a beloved building."
1995 (21 March)
Lin Utzon presents scale model
Lin Utzon presents the 1965 scale model of the Main Hall to the Sydney Opera House Trust. Lin says, on behalf of Utzon, it was “the dream that came to life."
1996
Joseph Skrzynski, AM begins tenure as Chairman of the Sydney Opera House Trust.
1996 (1 October)
Dennis Wolanski Library closes
The Dennis Wolanski Library of the Performing Arts is closed in November and its collections are dispersed to the State Library of NSW and other organisations in Australia.
1997 (March)
Tim Jacobs begins his tenure as Chief Executive of Sydney Opera House.
1997
NSW Government creates Sydney Opera House Masterplan
The Sydney Opera House Masterplan is prepared by the NSW Government Architect’s Office in October 1997. It includes proposed work valued at $32.5 million. Subsequently architects Denton Corker Marshall, led by Richard Johnson, are appointed to review the plan and develop architectural principles to guide future development work.
Credit: Fairfax