The Royal Organist
Westminster Abbey Emeritus Organist James O'Donnell
29 July 2025
In the Concert Hall
Classical Music
The former organist and master of choristers at Westminster Abbey for over 20 years, James O’Donnell performs a recital of organ masterpieces on the Sydney Opera House’s magnificent Grand Organ.
| Date | Time |
| Tuesday 29 July 2025 | 8pm |
| Ticket | Price |
| Premium | $109.90 |
| A Reserve | $99.90 |
| B Reserve | $89.90 |
| C Reserve | $79.90 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
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9am, Wednesday 2 April 2025
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Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
The duration of this event is yet to be confirmed.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
The Irish TimesO’Donnell is a master of his craft, a man who conveys the sound of the often monolithic-seeming organ with exceptional command of light and shade.
Useful information:
Putting the Grand Organ through its paces
Internationally acclaimed British conductor and organist James O’Donnell was the organist and master of choristers at Westminster Abbey for 23 years and was responsible for the music at occasions from royal weddings to the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He returns to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for an extraordinary recital of organ masterpieces on the Opera House’s own Grand Organ.
Designed and built by Sydneysider Ronald Sharp, the stunning Grand Organ was completed in 1979 and is the largest mechanical action organ in the world, featuring 10,244 pipes.
“While this will be my debut at the House as a player, in 2007 I conducted Westminster Abbey Choir in two concerts in the Concert Hall, so I am familiar with the superb hall and magnificent organ,” O’Donnell says. “Please come to hear me put it through its paces in a varied program of great organ music.”
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Program
Johann Sebastian Bach Prelude and Fugue in E flat BWV 552
Judith Bingham St Bride, assisted by angels
César Franck Choral I in E
William Walton Coronation March: Crown Imperial (1937)
Maurice Duruflé Suite, Op 5 [Prelude, Sicilienne, Toccata]
A note from James O'Donnell
The program opens with one of Bach’s most powerful organ works, with its symbolic representation of the Holy Trinity, before showcasing how French and English composers utilised the sounds of the grand organ with a wide variety of styles and musical forms. Walton’s majestic Coronation March leads into Duruflé’s magisterial suite with its thrilling final movement.
Preserving the Grand Organ
Ahead of The Royal Organist, learn all about the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, designed and built by the late Ronald Sharp. Discover the intricacies of the instrument, and the highs and lows of the building process.
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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