Decade of Renewal

News, videos and features about the Opera House’s ten-year Renewal program

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Find out more about the biggest upgrade in Opera House history and how a 10-year program of capital works totalling almost $300 million has transformed this world-famous icon for the 21st century.

Discover:

Image gallery: The beginning, middle and end of the Sydney Opera House doughnuts

The former acoustic stage reflectors, commonly referred to as ‘doughnuts’ were an iconic backdrop for Concert Hall performances for almost 50 years.

During our decade of renewal, they were removed and replaced to make way for acoustic upgrades, however this is not the end of their story.

As part of our plan to conserve, honour and celebrate the doughnuts, we commissioned performance artist Angela Goh to develop a contemporary artwork, The Concert, which shared an interpretive story of the doughnuts, reimagining them as artefacts that connect us to both our history and the future.

“Rebirth and resurrection”

William Barton is welcoming us back to the Concert Hall

Who better to help reopen the heart of the Opera House than William Barton? The celebrated Kalkadunga musician estimates he has played the venue over 300 times. “It's my stomping ground, of late,” he says, “my second home apart from the natural amphitheatre of the Australian bushland.” So it was fitting that his brand new composition, Of the Earth, was first to greet audiences as the Concert Hall made a triumphant return after closing for more than two years for state-of-the-art upgrades.

Image gallery: See the unveiled historic Concert Hall upgrade

After more than two years of extensive renewal works, here's a sneak peek of the Concert Hall transformation ahead of reopening. The finely-tuned and complex renovation expands the venue’s potential with new state-of-the-art theatre machinery and staging systems, enhanced acoustics to provide better sound for artists and audiences and improved access for people with mobility needs.

Time lapse of the Concert Hall upgrade

Since the Concert Hall closed for renovations in February 2020, hundreds of construction workers, acousticians, architecture and heritage experts have been busy delivering the biggest upgrade to the Concert Hall. Watch this incredible time-lapse footage of the renovation work that has taken place inside the venue.

In it for the long Hall

Find out how we we're future-proofing the Concert Hall for decades to come. When audiences return, they will experience the Hall like never before. This ambitious project, the biggest of the Opera House’s $275 million Renewal program, will better equip it for the full spectrum of 21st century performance, giving artists the capacity to fully realise their creative vision.

Sydney Opera House receives highest engineering honours

We are excited to announce that the American Society of Civil Engineers has recognised the Opera House as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and Engineers Australia has recognised the significance of the Opera House’s structural work with an Engineering Heritage International Marker. These honours are an important acknowledgment of the engineering profession’s significant contribution to the creation of the Opera House and we now join landmarks from around the world such as the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge in receiving these accolades.

Image gallery: Concert Hall Northern Foyer lift upgrades

The renewal of the Concert Hall is the final project in the Opera House’s Decade of Renewal. The team has been busy carrying out construction work to install a new lift in the venue’s Northern Foyer, as part of the project’s significant accessibility upgrades. View the gallery to see the new passenger lift being installed, which will make it possible for people with limited mobility and with a wheelchair to independently access each level of the Concert Hall Northern Foyers.

To find out more about the Opera House’s 10-year plan to renew the building for future generations of artists, audiences and visitors, click here.

Sydney Opera House to open new venue: Centre for Creativity

The Opera House will open its new Centre for Creativity on January 4, 2022 – a purpose-built home for hands-on creative experiences inside the world-renowned building. It’s one of the final projects in the Opera House’s Decade of Renewal, funded by the NSW Government, and is the first new dedicated programming venue to open in more than 20 years. The Centre was designed by renowned architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and built by Taylor Construction. It comprises a larger room which can host groups of 50-60 for workshops and 80-100 people for seated experiences when at full capacity, and a second room designed for small group work. It is located in the north-west corner of the ground floor of the Opera House and will be accessible through the Western Foyers.

In the midst of Concert Hall renewal

Watch how the Concert Hall upgrades are progressing with the key focus on celebrating and protecting heritage and elevating the experience of both audience and performer.

Proudly funded by the NSW Government.

Opera House wins accolades for heritage conservation

We are proud to announce that the Opera House received three accolades at the 26^th annual National Trust Heritage Awards. A highly-anticipated event, the Awards celebrate excellence in conservation, education, interpretation, advocacy and events, and promote greater appreciation and understanding of heritage.

Work begins to transform Concert Hall for new era

Better sound, better access and more ambitious performances to be enabled by $150 million upgrade.

Preserving the Grand Organ

Find out how we’re taking care of the Grand Organ during Concert Hall renewal.

A new passageway improves access to the Joan Sutherland Theatre

Venue opens up to all patrons with new improvements as part of Renewal.

Work begins to transform Concert Hall

Watch part one in a four part series documenting the Concert Hall's $150 million upgrade for better sound, better access and more ambitious performances.

The work that makes magic

How we're renewing the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

A grand design

Behind the scenes of legendary TV designer Kevin McCloud's Opera House visit.

Brilliant sound

Fine-tuning the acoustics of the Joan Sutherland Theatre

Restoring the Coburn Tapestries

Watch this incredible time lapse of the Concert Hall stage being demolished to make way for renewal upgrades that will improve sightlines, backstage access and the experience for performers and audiences.

Watch this incredible time-lapse footage of the renovation work that has taken place inside the Concert Hall since its temporary closure in January 2020, as the world-famous venue is transformed for the 21st century. The vision captures key project milestones so far, including the acoustics clouds – known as the ‘doughnuts’ – being winched down, the removal of the chairs, the build of the birdcage scaffold, the demolition and resurrection of the stage, and the installation of automated stage risers, which will improve sightlines and enable musicians to hear each other more clearly.

Watch the Sydney Symphony's final performance of 2019 as Simone Young conducts the orchestra performing Mahler's Klagende Lied.

The Concert Hall is getting a major $150 million upgrade so you can enjoy better sound, better access and more ambitious performances.

A journey through the transformations of the Opera House site evidenced by recent archaeological discoveries.

The new reflectors and drapes are put to the test.

Ever wondered what happens in the wings, behind-the-scenes, up in the lights?

The curtain rises on $71 million-dollar upgrades.

Host of the wildly popular Grand Designs, Kevin McCloud is no stranger to ambitious architectural projects.

New visitor experience at the Opera House receives Highly Commended Award

In February 2020, we closed our Concert Hall to commence major construction works as part of our Decade of Renewal.

To continue giving audiences a taste of the Concert Hall, each onsite Opera House tour now begins with a new immersive experience, which takes place inside a purpose-built venue, fitted out with state-of-the-art technology, 270-degree visuals and surround sound, as well as heritage-inspired interiors. In this newly opened space, guests can watch unforgettable moments from past Concert Hall performances and learn about the renewal of the world-famous venue.

We’re proud to announce that this project received a Highly Commended award at the National Trust Awards in the Education and Interpretation Category.

Image gallery: Concert Hall renewal stage demolition and build

As part of major renovations currently underway to transform the Opera House Concert Hall for the 21st century, the team has been busy carrying out construction work on the Concert Hall stage. This gallery documents the demolition of the stage and the concrete being poured, making way for new automated stage risers that will improve sightlines for audiences.

Image gallery: Concert Hall lift and passageway upgrades

Major construction work is continuing to transform the Concert Hall with significant progress being made on accessibility improvements to the venue to ensure it can be enjoyed by all. Once complete, the Concert Hall will have a new lift and passageway, making it possible for everyone to independently access all levels of the Concert Hall, including its spectacular Northern Foyer.

This gallery documents the progress that has been made on the new lift and passageway.

Image gallery: Concert Hall Renewal

Take a look behind the doors of the Concert Hall to see how renewal works are progressing inside the famous venue.

Planning approvals

View the Opera House’s Concert Hall Renewal Approvals.

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