Special Presentations
A selection of special events, performances and films from the Sydney Opera House archive.
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Lighting of the Sails 2024: Echo by Julia Gutman and Pleasant Company
Livestreamed Friday 24th May 2024 at 6pm AEST. Through fantastic and impossible imagery, Australian artist and Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman with animation technologists, Pleasant Company, conjure an epic animated journey of inner and self-discovery. Soundtrack by Angus Mills.
Lighting of...
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The Last Post (Winds of Change) - Performance (2023)
The Last Post (Winds of Change) is a new arrangement of the special ceremonial piece, which holds great significance to everyone who has fought for this country, their families, and for Australian citizens.
Developed over two years by First Nations arts company Garrijimanha, the new work is perf...
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Whispers / Megan Cope (2023)
On Tubowgule, now called Bennelong Point, Quandamooka artist Megan Cope introduces 'Whispers', a melding of First Nations history and environmental consciousness. In this artwork, commissioned for our 50th anniversary, more than 85,000 oyster shells are positioned across the Sydney Opera House pr...
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Play It Safe - Celebrating 50 years of brave creativity at Sydney Opera House
For five decades the Opera House has stood in defiance of that nervous little voice inside us that tells us to play it safe and keep it simple. This special film celebrates our 50th anniversary, encouraging us all to live on the edge of possible, because when we do, extraordinary things can happe...
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What is The City But The People? (2023)
Available worldwide until 1st Oct 2028.
‘What Is the City but the People?’ was a unique portrait of Sydney created by its people, showcasing the story, sentiments and soul of the city. Raised above the forecourt, Sydneysiders walked a 60 metre catwalk backed by live music, projected photographs ... -
Open House Weekend (2023)
To celebrate the Opera House’s 50th birthday, we threw open our doors for a free event of exploration and discovery, simultaneously live-streamed around the world. Watch the on-demand stream, as we move through the corridors of this World Heritage-listed masterpiece, to explore our famous venues ...
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A Stroke of Genius (1983)
Created in 1983 to celebrate the 10th birthday of Sydney Opera House, 'A Stroke of Genius' uses contemporary interviews and archival footage to retell the story of the House and its impact on the social fabric of the city. Opening with a dramatic sequence of the House sculpted in ice, the documen...
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Lighting of the Sails 2023: Life Enlivened by John Olsen and Curiious
The Sydney Opera House farewells one of Australia’s most admired artists, Dr John Olsen AO OBE. We proudly pay tribute to Olsen’s extraordinary six-decade career in Lighting of the Sails: Life Enlivened when his works will be animated and projected on the Opera House sails for Vivid Sydney from 2...
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From the Sails: Light Years (2022) - Livestream Version
In October 2022, we kicked off our 50th anniversary celebrations with ‘From the Sails: Light Years’ - a film projected nightly onto the Opera House sails that celebrated the past, present and people of the building.
The film looks back at the design and construction of the Opera House, the gran...
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The Takeover (2023)
What happens when you suspend the school timetable for 3 weeks and give students full creative control? Follow the journey of teachers and students of Liverpool Boys High School in Western Sydney, as the traditional school structure is turned on its head and creativity takes the reins.
The Takeo...
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Lighting of the Sails 2022: Yarrkalpa - Hunting Ground, 2021
Yarrkalpa - Hunting Ground, 2021
By The Martu Artists And Curiious
(Inspired By Yarrkalpa – Always Walking Country 2014)
With Soundtrack By Electric Fields Featuring The Vocals Of The Martu ArtistsTwo years in the making, a stunning new digital artwork, 'Yarrkalpa – Hunting Ground, 2021', cre...
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Piano Day | Andrea Lam, Amanda Palmer, Ian Munro, Vatche Jambazian & Zubin Kanga
Piano Day 2022 features an exclusive broadcast of new performances by classical, experimental and contemporary musicians including Andrea Lam, Amanda Palmer, Ian Munro, Vatche Jambazian and Zubin Kanga.
Founded by Nils Frahm in 2015, the 88th day of the year was declared Piano Day - a nod to th...
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DANCERITES Deadly Moments (2021)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following content may contain images and voices of deceased persons.
For almost 10 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have travelled to Sydney to take part in Sydney Opera House’s various First Nations Festivals ...
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Delta Goodrem: Global Citizen LIVE at the Sydney Opera House
In 2019, the Sydney Opera House became the first major Australian arts organisation to make a commitment to achieving the Global Goals. We continue to further embed the Global Goals into our work.
We were super excited to have been part of Global Citizen Live – a 24-hour Global event featuring o...
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Badu Gili | Judith (Jenuarrie) Warrie, Mervyn Rubuntja & Djambawa Marawili
Badu Gili lights up the eastern Bennelong Sail with ancient First Nations stories in a spectacular projection. Curated by Rhoda Roberts, former Head of First Nations Programming, Badu Gili traces the ancient songlines of First Nations storytelling across Australia.
See the works of eminent Firs...
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Piano Day 2020 | Nils Frahm, Jon Hopkins, Joep Beving, Margaret Leng Tan & more
An exclusive broadcast of Piano Day 2020 featuring Jon Hopkins, Joep Beving, Margaret Leng Tan, Nils Frahm and more. First broadcast on 28 March 2020.
Founded by Nils Frahm in 2015, the 88th day of the year was declared Piano Day - a nod to the 88 keys on a modern piano.
Piano Day 2020 feature...
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Lighting of the Sails 2019: Austral Flora Ballet by Andrew Thomas Huang
Watch the sails of the Sydney Opera House transform into a large-scale canvas for Vivid Sydney, featuring Andrew Thomas Huang's new work "Austral Flora Ballet".
Commissioned by the Sydney Opera House & Destination NSW for the Lighting of The Sails at Vivid Sydney 2019.
Director: Andrew Thomas ...
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Badu Gili | Wonder Women
A celebration of the rich history and contemporary vibrancy of Australia’s First Nations culture, Badu Gili continues the traditions of Bennelong Point, formerly known as Tubowgule ('where the knowledge waters meet'), a gathering place for community, ceremony and storytelling for thousands of yea...
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Dance Rites 2019 - First Nations Dance & Culture
Dance Rites — Australia’s First Nations dance competition — is the Sydney Opera House’s free celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island dance and cultures on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, taking place each spring. In November 2019, more than 350 performers from 19 Aboriginal and Torre...
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Behind the Scenes: Kids Tour of the Sydney Opera House | Age 5+
Be transported to Bennelong Point with our expert guide Alex for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the Opera House. Discover the Indigenous history and cultural significance of this remarkable place, learn about the design principles formulated by architect Jørn Utzon a...
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Guwanyi Walama | Kids Tour of the Sydney Opera House precinct | Age 8+
Join our Indigenous narrators on a journey into the history and culture of Bennelong Point in this digital tour created especially for kids!
Beginning from creation time to pre-settlement and the arrival of the first fleet, learn about the daily life of the Gadigal people and the land of Tubowgu...