Resident Companies
The Sydney Opera House is home to eight flagship Australian performing arts companies. Meet the companies and performers who bring art to life every day beneath the famous sails.
Australian Chamber Orchestra
The Australian Chamber Orchestra is renowned for inspired programming and unrivalled virtuosity, energy and individuality. Its unique programming spans six centuries, spanning popular masterworks, adventurous cross-artform projects and specially commissioned pieces.
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Acclaimed around the world for its distinctive theatrical voice, powerful choreography, unique soundscapes and design, Bangarra is Australia's leading First Nations performing arts company.
Bell Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s legacy to successive generations is his firm faith in human potential. Bell Shakespeare is Australia's national theatre company specialising in the works of the poet and playwright who continues to challenge us to reach beyond our grasp and give us the wherewithal to imagine our future.
Opera Australia
Australia’s national opera company was born when a band of idealists — butchers, pharmacists, newsagents — gave up their day jobs to celebrate the 1956 Mozart bicentenary with a season of four operas. Today, Opera Australia (OA) is Australia’s largest performing arts company, which each year presents an extensive season showcasing the world’s great opera and music theatre repertoire under the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House and at Arts Centre Melbourne, together with a regional touring program and performance broadcasts in cinemas and on national television and radio.
Sydney Theatre Company
Recognised as one of the world’s most exciting and original theatre companies, Sydney Theatre Company is at the heart of Australia’s cultural landscape with a history of ground-breaking productions.
The Australian Ballet
A commitment to artistic excellence, a spirited style and a willingness to take risks have defined The Australian Ballet from its earliest days, both on and off the stage.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1932 by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra of world standing and one of the leading orchestras in the Asia-Pacific region. The Sydney Symphony performs approximately 150 concerts each year to an annual audience of more than 350,000. The Orchestra not only performs core symphonic repertoire but engages in collaborations with other art forms and commissions new works by Australian and international composers to ensure the vibrancy of orchestral music for generations to come.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
Founded in 1920, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs is the largest choral organisation in Australia, with more than 1,500 singers across six choirs. First performing at the Sydney Opera House’s opening ceremony in 1973, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs has grown to be recognised around the world for its contribution to Sydney’s vibrant artistic and cultural identity.