To Opera or Not to Opera

As you probably remember, we were heading to Sydney, Australia so our Kidney Donor Athlete could run the newest World Major Marathon. And since we were going ALL THAT WAY, we wanted to make sure we saw as MUCH of the continent as we could. We spent a few days in the Outback at Uluru, gazed ever-changing masterpieces in Melbourne, walked the beach at Brighton, drove the Great Ocean Road and even spent time with some penguins. But what to do in Sydney? The question quickly became, “to opera or not to opera?” We knew we’d at least want photos of it since it’s beautiful and iconic. But neither of us had ever attended an opera before and it conjured images of large women, wearing horned helmets, and screeching songs in languages we didn’t speak. Even so, seeing one at the Sydney Opera House felt like the chance of a life time…so we decided to risk it. Come with us this week for a peek inside and hear what it was like.

First Impressions

Seeing the opera house up close is FAR different than seeing it in photos. I thought the “sails” were white and smooth. It turns out, they are really a cream color and covered in a million little tiles.

Fun Facts

• The winning design was chosen from an international contest.
• It took 14 years to complete.
• The original budget was $7 million.
• It actually cost $100 million!!
• It’s not just one building but a series of structures that include multiple theaters, restaurants, and bars.

Deciding to Go

We checked the calendar to see what would be performing the days we were in Sydney and we’re excited to see that “La Boheme” would be there. If you’ve ever seen “Rent” or “Moulin Rouge”, the story is similar. Poor “bohemian” artists, living, loving and ultimately tragically dying. Since it seemed like a story we could relate to, we decided to check ticket prices.

Main floor seats were pretty pricey, like $200 Australian each. Of course the exchange rate to the US Dollar was pretty favorable, but even so, it felt like a lot to risk on something we might not enjoy. And then…Stephen discovered that there were box seats, along the side of theater that were only $60! Not only that, there is a bar at the theater so worst case, we stay for an act and have a libation before heading out for the night.

Up Close and Personal

It was so interesting to see how the structure of theater seemed to change as you moved through it.

And Inside was Even More Interesting

A Bar with a View

Not only did they have some lovely adult beverages, I could have spent ALL NIGHT just looking out the windows!

The $60 Seats?

We didn’t know what to expect when we ascended the heavily carpeted steps to our seats.

But let’s just say…the seats DID NOT disappoint!!

What We Learned

Although the lyrics were in Italian, the theater had a running banner above the stage that translated everything to English. And I found the show was unexpectedly moving. There was something about the way emotion was communicated through the singing, that I’d not experienced in any other live theater setting. And I’ll be honest, the $60 seats were great for a first timer dipping their toes in the water, but we couldn’t see about 25% of the stage. Next time, we will for SURE upgrade to main floor or balcony seats.

What the Oracle Recommends

So if you’re faced with the question, “to opera, or not to opera”, I say…”go for it!” And if you want to see the opera house for yourself, right from your chair, check out their free virtual tour!

Thanks for joining us this week for a little “high brow” entertainment! If you enjoy these peeks into far flung places, be sure to follow us on Facebook or subscribe for free! And you can always see what we’re up to in real time on Instagram. Until next time!