“Sydney’s iconic Opera House will undergo a sweeping, multimillion-dollar makeover, including a long-awaited upgrade to its much-maligned acoustics,” writes Kristen Gelineau in a Thursday (8/11) Associated Press article. “The 202 million Australian dollar (US$155 million) project is the largest renovation Australia’s most famous landmark has undergone since it opened in 1973, and will involve the creation of a new entrance and the refurbishment of its main performance space, the Concert Hall.… Though the building’s exterior is universally admired for its dramatic, sweeping sails, its interior has long drawn the wrath of musicians who complain about the poor quality of the Concert Hall’s acoustics.… Sydney Symphony Orchestra Managing Director Rory Jeffes said on Thursday that the orchestra had been closely involved in the refurbishment plans, which will include a new acoustic ceiling and reflectors to improve sound in the Concert Hall.… Construction on the Concert Hall will begin in mid-2019, with the upgrade expected to take 18 months. The building’s second-largest performance space, the Joan Sutherland Theatre, is also being revamped. The AU$45 million renovation, announced last year, will close the theater between May and December next year, though the building’s five other performance spaces will remain open.”
Posted August 12, 2016
