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An animated tapestry art wallpaper.

Tapestries at the House

The four tapestries that call the Opera House home reveal fascinating stories about the Opera House’s rich cultural heritage and design legacy.

The Sydney Opera House tapestries - Le Corbusier’s Les Dés sont Jetés or The Die Is Cast (1960), John Coburn’s Curtain of the Sun and Curtain of the Moon (1973), and Jørn Utzon’s Homage to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (2004) – are all strikingly beautiful works of modern art.

The tapestries reflect Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s design intent for the interior of the Opera House, where he envisioned the use of modern art and vibrant colour to heighten audience members’ sense of anticipation as they took their seats. This vision for the building was in part implemented by Australian architect Peter Hall, who completed the interiors of the Opera House and implemented Utzon’s ideas through his own design lens.

Delve into the stories behind these famous tapestries by tuning into our podcast series and playlists inspired by the works, exploring the exhibits on Google's digital museum platform, watching their colourful history and making unfold through one of our videos, or getting creative with the kids with a range of activities.

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Two men in a suit.

The making of the Coburn Tapestries

John Coburn describes the weaver's craft in Felletin, France. 

A team of men and women installing the tapestry curtain in the Concert hall.

The Coburn Tapestries return to our stages

In May 2019, the tapestries were exhibited for public viewing for the first time in over a decade. 

A curtain in the Concert hall with tapestry art.
Sydney Opera House, Opera Hall with Curtain of the Sun, designed by John Coburn.

Hanging the Coburn Tapestries

Watch this time lapse of the Curtain of the Sun being hung in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

A curtain with yellow-pink tapestry art.
Coburn Tapestry 16x9

Exhibiting the Coburn Tapestries

The exhibition of the Curtain of the Sun and Curtain of the Moon in their original theatre homes.

A man in a suit staring at artwork on a wall.
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Rosso’s tapestry obsession

Tim Ross, design enthusiast and presenter, has become fixated with the Opera House's historic tapestries – so much so he's hosting a podcast about them.

Le Corbusier tapestry, Les Dés Sont Jetés

The untold story of a collaboration between two of the 20th century’s greatest architects

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