Sydney Opera House — The Opera (The Eighth Wonder)

Overview

We've had silent yoga sessions and silent coastal roaming disco parties. And now Sydney is getting the world's first large-scale silent opera. From October 28 to November 5, the celebrated steps of the Sydney Opera House will be transformed into an opera stage for the first time for a special live performance of Sydney Opera House — The Opera (The Eighth Wonder).

How can an opera be silent, you ask? Well, both the opera singers and the orchestra will perform live (both on the steps and inside the House), and will be transmitted to the audience through personal headphones for an immersive aural experience. As you're listening, you'll also witness visual art installations (think your nan's Hills Hoist) and a live chorus enact the story in front of your eyes.

The narrative behind the opera is fascinating – and completely factual. Using the backdrop of the Opera House, the performance will retell the story of how the Australian cultural landmark came to be, and — navigating people, triumphs, dreams and failures of the time — how it sculpted our cultural landscape as a whole. The performance will be nestled amidst a backyard cricket set-up and five pop-up eateries serving Aussie-as food, like vegetable pasties, BBQ shrimps and steak sangas. There will also be an exhibition of Max Dupain's iconic photographs of the construction of the Sydney Opera House.