English: The first public performance, a production of Prokofiev’s War and Peace, was given in the Opera Theatre on Friday 28 September, 1973, by the Australian Opera.

The inaugural presentation in the Concert Hall the following night was a Wagnerian program by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra was conducted by Charles Mackerras and the Swedish soprano, Birgit Nilsson, was soloist in an all-Wagner concert.

The Old Tote Theatre Company (later to be the Sydney Theatre Company), resident in the Drama Theatre, opened its first season in the House on 2 October, 1973, with a performance of Shakespeare’s Richard II.

HM Queen Elizabeth II opened Sydney Opera House in the presence of The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 October. The ceremony was conducted on the Forecourt.

Ben Blakeney, a direct descendant of the Aboriginal Bennelong appeared silhouetted as a tiny figure at the apex of one of the high roof sails, representing his ancestor and blessing the Opera House and its patrons.

HM Queen Elizabeth II attended the Gala Concert on the same evening of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony featuring the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She also attended the opening night performance of The Magic Flute on Monday 22 October.

Reference:
Sydney Opera House website. www.sydneyoperahouse.com (accessed May 31, 2012)



Format: Negative

Find more detailed information about this photographic collection: acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=131645

From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales www.sl.nsw.gov.au