A Dutch tribute on the 50th anniversary of the opening of that hallowed hall on the harbour.

Willen van Otterloo conducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) for the inaugural concert in front of the Queen. The following year he took the SSO on a world tour.

A few contoversies surrounding the Opera House

The Dutch also played a small role in this success story

While of course the Danish architect Jørn Oberg Utzon designed the Sydney Opera House in Australia. There are also Dutch stories to tell around this famous landmark. Dutch emigrant Dick Dusseldorp’s company Civil & Civic build the first stage of the Sydney Opera House. In 2000 the Dutch company Philips Lighting provided the technical implementation of the lighting display of the Sydney Opera House. At two occasions the Opera House turned orange during the state visits in 2006 and 2016.

First Day Cover with a conductor (van Otterloo) and on the left is a picture of the Opera House with the Australia Square building in the background ( Dusseldorp).

The Sydney Morning Herald had a 40 page magazine on the 50th birthday.

Ze leve lang hoera, hoera.