Ahhhhhh Sydney

It wasn’t until I was standing on the mezzanine of the Sydney Opera House, sipping champagne and watching the sun set behind the Harbour Bridge that I really noticed how beautiful it is here. Up until now, I was too busy doing and seeing and chronicling to be truly enjoying. But tonight I left the camera at home. And, instead of subconsciously framing my next shot, I was simply absorbing the hews of color as they melted into the twilight falling over a truly great city.


The inside of the Opera House’s Main Concert Hall was smaller than I imagined. It’s only about half the size of Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium. But that’s where any possible comparisons ended. The Concert Hall is the largest of several venues in the Opera House. Every ceiling and wall is angular; seating pushes up to the ceilings.


I was a bit disappointed as I found my seat. I was on an aisle in the third row and looking up at the stage and I feared I’d only hear the part of the symphony nearest me. But, as two dozen violinists drew bow as one, it brought tears to my eyes. It was so beautiful. It was too beautiful and it moved me.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a farce, and a farce this was. I’d read a newspaper review over breakfast this morning and the writer said Sydney’s Symphony Orchestra stole the show. On this I have to disagree. Sure, I was moved by the symphony. But the actors drew tears from me too - tears of laughter. Watching plumbers and maids, secretaries and pizza deliverer’s recite Shakespearian lines verbatim while weaving in and out of the Symphony’s rows was a crack-up. The musicians couldn’t help but laugh too as actors came out with trombones and saxophones, cymbals and drum sticks to use as props. Everyone – the audience, the actors and the musicians – had a good time.

The audience was included in the performance too. Towards the end, the actors passed glow sticks out to those seated along the first several aisles to wave as part of the grand finale. I had a cameo part in a Sydney Opera House performance.


Well done Sydney. Well done!