3d Model of Opera House available in 2 Versions
Version One
Model created by Josh Wilson ©2007, and available for free download from the original source here, or simply follow the embedded link below.
View in Google Earth (.kmz file) 309kb
Version Two
Utzon(n)ites: A Public Program of Talks by Historic Houses Trust regarding Jørn Oberg Utzon
Utzon 2: vs the Liberal Government
A conversation with Elias Duek Cohen, an urban planning academic at the University of New South Wales. Listen (length: 15:35)
02:30-03:35 Initial impression of the Utzon design for the Sydney Opera House, "a work of genius..worth three and a half million pounds"
03:50-05:30 Elias discusses an advocacy committee that he created with Peter Collar, another professor at UNSW, Harry Siedler and others to promote the case of Utzon. A meeting was held in lower Town Hall to discuss who could replace the council overseeing the project.
05:37-06:34 An attempt was made by the committee to write a statement on the proper costings of the project that was to be distributed to all members of Parliament.
06:36-07:20 A meeting was held by the committee which passed a motion saying Jorn Utzon "was the man for the job", however 10 days previously a replacement had already been decided by the Council.
7:30-09:03 The Committee was disbanded, and only Elias remained. He proceeded to publish and distribute the statement.
09:10-15:32 In 1968 Elias wrote a statement, A House for Music: A Parable that he proceeds to read.
"Once upon a time in a small time by the water in a far away land a few people got together and said "let's have a house for music". They liked music and play acting very much and they didn't have a proper place for it and they decided they would like the most beautiful and wonderful place ever built and they decided they would have a competition. And hundreds of architects from around the world sent in their ideas and drawings. One of these things was a very wonderful thing, quite different from anything that had been seen before...."
Bill Wheatland, a legal assistant to Utzon during his latter years in Sydney during the period of the legal case over unpaid fees against the Asking Liberal Governmnent, in conversation with Sylvia Watson, an esteemed writer. Listen (length: 16:03)
1:25-2:10 The struggle to bring the design to life. Discusses the difficulty to unite the two buildings.
2:12-2:49 The troubles become too overwhelming, and the group drowned their sorrows at the White Swan. Upon their return from the pub the group set alight the models and papers in a bonfire.
03:13-04:05 The shock of hearing of Utzon's solution to the planning difficulty in the Sydney Morning Herald prompts Wheatland's remark "he must be a genius"
04:48-05:54 Finally a meeting with Utzon takes place, and the men immediately strike a lasting partnership.
06:37-09:22 Speaks of how the "cracks" in the relationship with the Government appeared before the election of the Askin Liberal Government.
09:41-11:36 An explanation of the building's architecture.
13:01-13:25 The withholding of fees by the Government places great strain on the project.
15:14 Utzon is forced to resign from the project. David Hughes announces the resignation of the chief architect. "Utzon Quits Opera House" is the front page story of the Sydney Morning Herald the following day.
More interviews may be found on the Trust' webpage by following this link.
The Opening Concert: Captured for Posterity
The first permance staged in the newly opened Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House featured an all-Wagner concert. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra thrilled audiences, performing with the Swedish Soprano Brigit Nilsson as soloist. Sir. Charles Mackerras was the conductor for this history-making concert.
A video may be accessed here.
Short Documentary on the Politics Behind the Opera House
A short documentary that discusses the historical events leading up to the opening of the Sydney Opera House is available below. The video appears to have been narrated by Peter Fitzsimons and includes interviews with Jan Utzon and Neville Wran.
0:22 Narration begins.
0:39 An explanation of the historical lead up to the construction of the Opera House.
0:45& 0:57 Photos of Fort Macquarie, situated at Bennelong Point during Governor Macquarie's rule are depicted.
01:01&01:06 Discussion of its later use as a tram yard til the late 1950s.
01:14-01:40 Eugène Goossens, an eminent English conductor and composer, is brought to Australia in the late 1940s to lead the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He is credited with being the instigator of the movement to have a world-class Concert and Opera House built in Sydney.
02:01-02:06 A collage of submitted designs.
02:10-02:38 Describes the announcement of Jorn Utzon as submitting the winning design and the heated public debate that proceeded from the decision. Letters to the editor of SMH are described as being both "outraged and entraptured" at the design.
02:39 An interview with Jorn Utzon's son, Jan Utzon reveals the pleasure Utzon had for taking on the momentous project.
03:10-04:01 Architectural and construction problems arise.
03:36-04:01 A montage of photographs and video footage taken during the process of constructing the house.
04:17-04:41 Describes the turmoil that ensued from the election of the Askin Liberal Government.
04:45-05:47 Neville Wran, a young lawyer hired by Utzon during the legal battle, and later Premier of NSW speaks of the treatment of Utzon by the Government.
05:35-05:57 Jan Utzon reveals why his father was forced to resign.
06:06-06:14 David Hughes, Minister of Public Works, announces that he expected the project to be completed on time.
06:42-06:54 Footage of the Queen at the formal opening ceremony.
8:00-8:25 Jan Utzon is brought onto the project as an architect to continue with the ongoing design modification of the house's interior.
Utzon Lecture Series [UNSWTV: Faculty of the Built Environment]
Sydney Opera House: The Past, Present and Future
Jan Utzon on Jorn Utzon [24 March, 2010]
Length: 83:14
Jan Utzon speaks of his father's experience in the Sydney Harbour House project. He provides insight into the future vision for the design of the interior. Jan has been working since 2008 with the architectural firm Johnson Pilton Walkeras on upgrades to the building.
The video can be accessed from its original source, here.
