Sydney Opera House launches its year-long 50th anniversary celebrations

The Sydney Opera House has tonight launched its year-long 50th anniversary celebrations with a special new video work illuminating its famous sails.

The 17-minute film projection, ‘From the Sails: Light Years’, tells the story of the Opera House, its site, design and construction, the opening in 1973, and the incredible artists who bring the building to life.

From the Sails: Light Years by Sam Doust and Art Processors will illuminate the Opera House sails every evening from sunset to 11pm, until Sunday 30th October, with an accompanying soundtrack available online. It will also be live streamed from 7:10pm AEDT on Thursday 20th October and can be viewed anywhere in the world via Stream, the Opera House’s online streaming platform.

Beginning tomorrow night until Sunday 30th October, a series of free open-air choral concerts will be performed, at dusk, on the steps of the Opera House. From the Steps: Voices at Dusk invites people to gather to enjoy local community choirs singing soaring harmonies against the backdrop of the famous sails, just before they are lit.

Over the next 12 months in the lead up to its 50th birthday in October 2023, the Opera House will open its doors to the whole community with an unmissable program of more than 230 events and experiences, supported by the NSW Government’s Blockbusters Funding initiative.

Soundtrack available here 

Viewing via Stream 

Image. Credit: Daniel Boud