Opera Australia Announces World's First Silent Opera Production to be Staged in Sydney

The world's first large-scale, live silent opera performance will premiere in Sydney when Opera Australia stages Sydney Opera House - The Opera: The Eighth Wonder, using the famous building as an opera stage for the first time.

A huge cast, chorus and orchestra will perform the opera live, with the sound transmitted to the 3,000 strong audience through state-of-the-art Audio Technica headphones, a feat not accomplished before with classical music on such a large scale.

The singers will perform on the steps of the Sydney Opera House with the orchestra performing inside and the sound combined. With this unique presentation of 'silent opera' the audience can enjoy the sumptuous music cocooned in a world of pure sound.

Opera Australia is combining the traditional art-form and a story about 1960s Australia with the latest in technologically advanced sound design, staging, projection, lighting and 3D printing. One of Australia's earliest patents, the Hills Hoist, also makes an appearance.

The Sydney Opera House itself will be used as an opera stage for the first time ever. Platforms will glide across the 100 metre-wide steps, delivering the fast-paced action. Giant screens will unfurl to display historic photos. Giant glowing balls of paper, projections and lighting effects will complete the son-et-lumiere spectacle.

Opera Australia's Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini believes it will be a magical experience.

"Sitting under the stars on the Forecourt, the audience will be cocooned in a world of pure sound with the stunning visuals of a brilliantly designed set spread across the steps and the magnificent Sydney Opera House as the backdrop. It doesn't get much better than this in Sydney.

"We'll have all the things that people love about Sydney - the harbour, the Sydney Opera House, fantastic food and entertainment -together in one unforgettable night."

Sydney Opera House, The Opera: The Eighth Wonder is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts TRoy Grant said Sydney Opera House, The Opera: The Eighth Wonder presents another fantastic opportunity for Opera Australia to perform in new and exciting spaces and engage new audiences.

"This spectacular new event follows in the footsteps of the successful HANDA Opera on Sydney Harbour series which has become one of the world's most acclaimed outdoor opera events. It will share the story behind one of our most celebrated landmarks with visitors from around Australia and the world, generating an estimated $2.3 million in visitor spend," Mr Grant said.

The event is being produced by the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour team and they are creating a fabulous site, with bars, food outlets, stunning harbour views, and even space to play cricket before the opera. One hundred and fifty young Built Environment architecture students from UNSW will create a number of visual art installations for the site, including a 3D-printed bar table.

The opera tells the dramatic true story of the creation of the world's most famous building and the coming of age of Australia. Danish tenor Adam Frandsen plays architect Jørn Utzon, Gerry Connolly plays the Queen,

Martin Buckingham plays the NSW Premier and Stacey Alleaume plays a young singer, dreaming of singing at the Sydney Opera House. Opera Australia is thrilled to present a major event celebrating the creation and ongoing success of a great architecturally technical feat and international icon. The staging will be ambitious, using the opera as the basis of a spectacular, technology-driven outdoor event.

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