I’m really delighted by the Sydney Opera House. Every big city should have one. Not exactly the same, obviously. But every big city should have a venue for the arts that is:
- Central and impressive from afar, providing a focus for the cityscape
- Unique and ambitious, to astonish the first-time visitor and delight the resident
- Imposing and grandiose up close, so that any visit feels like an occasion
- With outside spaces for pleasant days and inside spaces for wintery
- Offering views of the beautiful night-lit city, so looking out is as pleasant as walking in
- With bars and eating rooms that make you feel both stylish and comfortable
- And of course a selection of splendid concert and performance spaces within
We heard Rachmaninov’s 3rd Piano Concerto and 3rd Symphony, and while I’m still not really keen on the Romantic composers it was a good performance and I enjoyed it. But I mainly enjoyed it for the evening out and the setting. This is our swan-song for city life, though; tomorrow we head for Tasmania and back to the serious business of looking for wildlife.
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Tags: architecture, beauty, city, performance