A Night at the Opera

I don’t have a bucket list. However, if I did, one item on it would be an evening at Sydney Opera House, enjoying a delicious meal and some excellent musical theatre. What’s more, after this weekend, I would now be ticking it off!

Having been in Sydney for a few days, we had already seen the Opera House from a few different perspectives. It is prominently situated on a natural peninsula extending out into Sydney’s vast Harbour, which means it is visible from most of the bays, coves, trails and look-out points tucked away around the water’s edge.

My main photo, above, is taken from one of the many public transport ferries that pass it by, on the way back to the Harbour’s main ferry interchange at nearby Circular Quay.

For the photo below, I climbed up to the dizzy heights of the pedestrian walkway crossing the (equally iconic) Sydney Harbour Bridge.

This next one is taken on the terrace of the Opera House itself, on a walk out towards the nearby green spaces of the Domain and Botanical Gardens.

The world-famous building was opened in 1973, and has just begun its 50th year celebrations. The show we were watching was Amadeus, a play with music about the life of Mozart, told from the perspective of a jealous rival composer, Salieri, played by well-known Brit actor, Michael Sheen.

The show was great, my favourite aspect being the orchestral sound – looking up at those ceilings in the shapes of huge sails, it is immediately apparent that nothing has been spared on the quality of the internal acoustics.

I also really liked the fact that the building was designed to be spacious and social. We enjoyed a pre-show meal on the huge terrace alongside the building, in the sun, in full view of the Harbour Bridge and the passing seafaring traffic. A massive visiting cruise ship was departing just as we ate, providing further spectacle.

Interval drinks were served on a balcony high up at the front of the building, with peerless views from east to west across Sydney Harbour, as the sun set and the lights were coming on.

And what, as a food blogger, did I make of the restaurant meal? I’m pleased to say it impressed as well! Our party of four shared a range of platters of what the chef calls Pan-Asian Fusion. Our selection included vegetarian spring rolls with plum sauce, a bamboo basket of steamed dumplings with black vinegar and chilli oil, beef sando (a type of Japanese steak sandwich), karaage fried chicken, katsu curry and a dish of mixed sushi. Considering the location, the bill was very reasonable as well.

My final shot of this iconic venue I took as we walked home after the show, having had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Enjoying a little night music, in a play about the life of Mozart? This just has to be the next track for the ADK Playlist: the instantly recognisable (and, be warned, hummable) Serenade in G Major from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.