Hello! With only a month until our arrival in Sydney (and 2 weeks until we leave for Asia and Oz!) I am considering buying tickets for a performance at the Sydney Opera House. We'd really like to "experience" the opera house and I was wondering if a Symphony in the Concert Hall or an opera in the Opera Theatre would be a more quintessential Sydney experience. We like both the opera and the symphony (we live near Lincoln Center in NY) so we are going for the experience of the Opera House (and a wonderful performance of course)!

Second, for pre- or post- theatre dining, is there a particular restaurant near the opera house that you would recommend with spectacular food and views? It's the last night of our vacation so we would like something special to remember. Perhaps Guillaume at Bennelong, Aria, Quay or Rockpool? We are open to all suggestions!

Thank you all for your help- all of your suggestions are always very much appreciated!
!

Punky, I don't know if either are quintessential Sydney experiences excatly - personally I'd vote for the opera, all else being equal. But maybe you should be guided by your musical tastes - I mean, if you like classical-period music and aren't keen on 20th-century stuff, and the Sydney Symphony is playing Mozart while the Australian Opera is doing Janacek, that should make the decision easier.

The SSO and AO are both fine bodies. Arguably, though, our most outstanding band is the Australian Chamber Orchestra, which has won international accolades for its spirited performances and varied repertoire (Times of London: "this must be the best chamber orchestra on earth&quot. The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is another excellent smaller orchestra that has recorded with artists of the calibre of Andreas Scholl. You might like to consider them if they're performing while you're in Sydney.

Where to eat in Sydney is a perennial topic here - I suggest you run a search on this forum, where you'll find a lot of threads, some of them quite recent.

Yes I think it depends on what the orchestra and Opera is offerring on the days available to you.However it is my opinion that you are more likely to get tickets for the SSO than you are for the opera at short notice.I agree about the Brandenburg and ACO (I prefer them both to the SSO ) but the Brandenburg do not perform at the Opera House...not sure about the ACO). As for nearby restaurants, the four you suggested are all near (Aria is practically on top and Guillaume is in the complex itself). Quay is my favourite but I would not like to go to any before the performance and have to rush as they are experiences in themselves.Perhaps after would be better if not too late?

You might be in luck - "Il Trovatore" is playing July 30 and August 4, 10, 13, 17, 21, 25, 28 (mat.), Sept 1. Check www.sydneyoperahouse.com

And the ACO is performing on Aug 22 at 2:30 pm - go to www.aco.com.au

Thanks for the responses!

I'll be in Sydney the August 29th until September 2 so my choices are Bruckner's Romantic Symphony (on the 30th) or Il Trovatore (on the 1st) at the opera house- both of which I know we would enjoy. There's tickets available for both right now which is part of the reason I am having trouble deciding. I am leaning towards the Symphony on the 30th and perhaps a leisurely dinner on the 2nd. Unfortunately, the ACO and Brandenburg are not performing while we are in town.

Not being confined to the vicinity near the opera house, are there any other suggestions for a restaurant that would be a "do not miss" in Sydney?

Punkyl44, I think I'd vote for whatever is on in the concert hall. This hall is, in fact, the main hall of the Sydney Opera House; it was GOING to be the Opera Theatre, but at the eleventh hour the government did its sums and decided that the numbers worked out better by relegating opera to the smaller of the two main halls and turning the largest hall into a concert hall... and a spectacular hall it is! If you've seen a photograph of the interior of the Sydney Opera House, chances are it's the concert hall you've seen.

For after-theatre dining, I can't think of a better choice than Doyle's at the Pier across on the other side of Circular Quay. It looks straight at the Opera House -- as you leave the Opera House you'll be looking straight across the water at Doyle's -- so you will have no trouble finding it, and the stroll around the Quay (ten minutes) is very pleasant. I haven't eaten there, so I can't comment on the quality of the food (any more than I'd like to comment on a choice between Il Trovatore and Bruckner), but their speciality is seafood, they have a good reputation, and they have been around for years and years -- apparently Russell Crowe was once a waiter at their original Rose Bay restaurant.

Hope you have a wonderful time -- it sounds like you are planning well!

Hi again Punky144. Agree with Alan re concert hall.Also for a special night for dinner I recommend QUAY...good view of bridge, harbour and opera house together with lovely food and great service. Lots of other good places at all prices...depending on where you are staying etc if you want to let us know. Cheers!

Thanks everyone! I bought concert tickets for the Symphony for Monday night and I made reservation at Quay for our final night! I'm going to try for Doyle's the night of the concert- just trying to work out if we'll have time before or if we can make it until after!

I can't wait to leave on vacation- 2 weeks and counting!

Sounds great.Hope you enjoy your holiday here!

Punky:
I would also opt for the concert hall over the opera theater. I've been to both.

Which ever you select, make sure you are not on JETLAG. I made the mistake of booking the opera on my second night in Sydney, after having flown from the US a few days prior. BIG mistake. I could NOT keep my eyes open for the opera (Marriage of Figaro)

Enjoy your trip. I'll be in Sydney the 28th Aug thru 1st Sept and had not thought of visiting the Opera House, but will have to see if my travel buddy would like to do that!

Carol

Enjoy your trip Carol- we'll be there at the same time as you and we're going to Bruckners Romantic Symphony on Aug. 30th.

www.sydneyoperahouse.com has all the schedules and is very easy to purchase tickets on!

punky:
I'll check with my travel friend to see if she wants to attend something at the Opera House. (we both just retired from many years of teaching on June 8 and wanted to be somewhere exotic when school starts up again in Aug/Sept!!)

The idea of a concert or opera had not been suggested up to now. We took the building tour some 10 years ago, and I've been to both an opera and Sydney Symphony twice on past trips to OZ. We only have a few days in SYD before heading to the Cooks/Tahiti/Bora Bora. SYD will provide time for last minute shopping and enjoying a big city and its lovely harbor.

I'll do a trip report on this forum after our return.

To everyone traveling to OZ, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands... DO enjoy this part of our world. It's a great vacation destination!

Carol