Opera in Sydney will undergo renovations to improve acoustics

Sydney (Australia) - The famous Opera House in the Australian city of Sydney is set to undergo extensive modernization. The aim of the project, costing 202 million Australian dollars (3.8 billion CZK), is primarily to improve the acoustics of the building's interior, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Work is expected to begin in May next year and will last for six years, reported the DPA agency.

Due to the renovation, the concert hall of the Opera, which has a capacity of 2,600 seats, will be closed for 18 months starting from mid-2019, announced the Opera's CEO Louise Herron.

This will be the largest renovation for the Sydney Opera since its opening in 1973. "It will focus on improving acoustics and accessibility of the facility and transforming underused offices of the Opera into a creative learning center that will create a friendly environment for families," the opera house stated in a press release.

The government of New South Wales, where the Opera is located, has simultaneously promised that the modernization of the building designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon will not change the exterior appearance of the structure resembling the sails of a giant sailing ship. It is precisely this design that has made the Opera in Sydney world-famous.

The Sydney Opera is visited by eight million people each year. However, disappointment over poor acoustics has followed it since its opening. "In 2014 we toured seven different concert halls in China, and I felt as if I was hearing the orchestra for the first time," stated chief conductor David Robertson.