Skip to main content

Read
Articles and stories from the Opera House community

A woman in a white jacket against a textured colorful visual projected onto the Sydney Opera House's sails, smiling.
Badu Gili artist Pat Ansell Dodds, Sydney Opera House
Read First Nations

The story of Badu Gili

Meet the Indigenous artists bringing First Nations cultures to the world.

spherical solution
Read Building

The spherical solution

Jørn Utzon's realisation that the form of the Sydney Opera House could be derived from the surface of a sphere marked a milestone in 20th century architecture.

Classical Music

Read Classical Music

Under the Sails with the LSO

In our 50-year history, the Sydney Opera House has welcomed thousands of world-class performers to its halls. But no orchestra has as long and rich a shared history with the Opera House as the London Symphony Orchestra.

Read First Nations

“Rebirth and resurrection”

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. This week, with clapsticks made from wood salvaged from the stage, he'll perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in a triumphant return to the Concert Hall.

Read Classical Music

Tempo primo

Remembering the Sydney Symphony's greatest Opera House moments.

Read more Classical Music stories

Contemporary Art & Performance

Read First Nations

Spirit of collaboration inspires ground-breaking Vivid LIVE sails artwork

Emily Nicol speaks to the creators of this year's extraordinary Vivid Lighting of the Sails artwork: the Martumili Artists, musicians Electric Fields, and creative technologists Curiious.

Contemporary Music

Two men playing grand piano and a guitar.
Read Contemporary Music

Father & Son: Marcel & Rami Khalifé

Composer, oud master and performer, Marcel Khalifé, shares a special bond with his son, piano virtuoso Rami Khalifé. Discover the father-son relationship behind the incredible musical duo.

Two men in black shirts in a purple-lit studio with headphones on.
Read Contemporary Music

How two rock stars are discovering the ‘sonic fabric’ of movies

The unconventional technique and unbelievable sounds of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, a duo whose film music is becoming as renowned as their solo works.

A group of musicians performing on the stage with a big balloon above them.
Read Contemporary Music

Solange’s sculptural performance art

Six shows where the artist collided music with movement and space.

Read more Contemporary Music stories

Comedy, Circus & Magic

Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset
Read Comedy, Circus & Magic

The stylish Scotsman who's reinventing mentalism

Scott Silven isn't your average magician. He sees magic as storytelling – "a metaphor for something greater". Ahead of Wonders, we talk to Silven about the art of magic.

Read Comedy, Circus & Magic

What’s it really like to run away with the circus?

Ever wondered what it's like to run away with the circus? Jascha Boyce and Darcy Grant from contemporary circus production The Mirror share the high-flying details.

A woman holding a long pole, performing on stage.
Read Comedy, Circus & Magic

Vietnam’s villages bloom into a city in À Ố Làng Phố

Tuan Le's new circus challenges how we see Asia.

Read more Comedy, Circus & Magic stories

Dance

Read Dance

Canberra dancer wins female choreographic residency

Sydney Opera House, The Australian Ballet and Dance Australia join forces to bring women to centre stage.

Read Dance

Clyde Emmanuel Archer is dancing between worlds

The L-E-V Dance Company artist on redefining race in dance, and the ‘gaga technique’

Read more Dance stories

First Nations

Read First Nations

Badu Gili’s Frances Belle Parker

We talk to Frances Belle Parker, one of the five Badu Gili artists, about her work, her motivation and how she's used the Opera House’s sails as a blank canvas.

Read First Nations

Deborah Mailman on Rhoda Roberts’ “remarkable” 16 years at the Sydney Opera House

Few people have had as much influence on what takes place in these hallowed halls as Rhoda Roberts. This month, she finishes her incredible stint at the Opera House. We spoke to actress and Trustee Deborah Mailman about Robert's everlasting impact.

Read First Nations

Why NAIDOC matters

We ask some of our Opera House family – performers and artists who take centre stage during this week of celebration – to discuss this year's NAIDOC theme and to unpack why the week matters to them.

Read more First Nations stories

Kids & Families

Read Kids & Families

A decade of creativity: Giving children a voice with Frank Newman

Nearly ten years since its inception, we spoke to Creative Learning Specialist Frank Newman about the importance of play, and how the Opera House uses contemporary arts practices in free Creative Play workshops.

A selection of three books against an orange background.
Read Kids & Families

From stage to story: books for kids

Inspire creative young minds with these children's books whose characters and their authors have appeared on the Opera House stages.

Read more Kids & Families stories

Musical Theatre & Cabaret

Two men with newspapers, standing in front of a brick wall and iron gates.
Read Musical Theatre & Cabaret

The French songwriting duo who dared to dream a dream

Many twists of fate led to this mesmerising concert celebrating the enduring music of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and more.

A group of people in colorful clothes, standing and singing on stage.
Read Musical Theatre & Cabaret

Lin-Manuel Miranda is tipping the scales of Broadway and Hollywood

Here are the moments the 'Hamilton' and 'In the Heights' genius championed diverse voices.

Read Musical Theatre & Cabaret

The viral musical you’ve probably never heard of

When it opened in 2017, ‘SIX the Musical’ enchanted a new generation of musical theatre fans with its contemporary pop homages and progressive take on Tudor history. Now, having just debuted on Broadway, the viral musical has its sights set on a wider audience.

Read more Musical Theatre & Cabaret stories

Opera

5f952bb5-c533-4eda-9d20-97ad93a5c668
Read Opera

Brett Whiteley: A life, an opera

A rebel. An icon. Learn about one of Australia's greatest artists.

Read Opera

Tina Arena channels the spirit of Eva Perón

The cast of Evita reveal what it's like to be part of an Argentinian social revolution.

Read more Opera stories

Talks & Ideas

A white ceramic bowl with black ornate edge pattern holding spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric on a tabletop. Five smaller bowls surround the edge of frame holding ingredients.
Read Talks & Ideas

The recipes that made her famous: Alison Roman’s internet-breaking meals

From the flavorful Spiced Chickpea Stew with Coconut and Turmeric to the legendary Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread, Alison Roman’s simple but oh-so-delicious creations have amassed millions of shares, likes, and followers around the world.

Read Talks & Ideas

Mother tongues and minor feelings

Recipient of the Antidote and Sweatshop Mentorship for Diverse Emerging Writers Joyce Chew on family, language and the “glittering visage of the Australian ‘fair go’”.

A crowd of people in masks with a sign titled 'Stop Asian Hate'.
Read Talks & Ideas

Now you see us

Recipient of the Antidote and Sweatshop Mentorship Program for Diverse Emerging Writers Patricia Arcilla writes about the “tidiness” of #StopAsianHate in the face of deeper systemic problems.

Read more Talks & Ideas stories

Theatre

Read Theatre

“My sun in dark places”: How theatre saved Hasiba Ebrahimi

Amidst a challenging childhood across three countries, Hasiba Ebrahimi found her calling in theatre and the life-affirming power of storytelling. Now, more than a decade later, Hasiba stars in Dorr-e Dari, a poetic multimedia celebration of love, poetry and classical Persian culture from Afghanistan.

Read Dance

John Bell in seven acts

To celebrate Bell Shakespeare's 30th anniversary we highlight seven of the best John Bell moments on stage with the Bard.

Read more Theatre stories