WORLD HERITAGE FOR LIVING PLACE THE WORLD SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE TRUST AnnuaL report 2006-07 Who We Are Key Dates CONTENTS The Hon. Frank Sartor, MP Sydney Opera House is a global One of the most popular visitor 1957 Jørn Utzon wins Sydney Opera House design competition (January) Who We Are 1 Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern Waterloo landmark, part of our nation’s DNA attractions in Australia, Sydney and Minister for the Arts and provides a central element Opera House sees more than Key Dates 1 1959 Work begins on Stage 1 – building the of the emotional heart of the city 4 million people visiting the site foundations despite Utzon’s protest that Highlights 2006/07 2 Sir, we have the pleasure of presenting the Annual Report of of Sydney. The focal point of our each year. Some 1.2 million people plans were not finalised (March) the Sydney Opera House for the year ended 30 June 2007, for Chairman’s Message 4 magnificent harbour, it is a place attend performances and over 1966 Jørn Utzon resigns (February) presentation to Parliament. This report has been prepared in CEO’s Message 6 of excitement and of warmth, 328,000 people take a guided tour accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory 1973 First guided tours of Sydney Opera House Vision and Goals 8 of welcome and wonder, where to explore the magic inside of one of Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. ( July) Key Outcomes 2006/07 and art and architecture uniquely the most recognised buildings in the 1973 First performance in Sydney Opera House Objectives 2007/08 9 combine to enchant and enliven world. Sydney Opera House is State, – Australian Opera performed Prokofiev’s Performing Arts 10 artists, audiences and visitors. National and World Heritage listed. War and Peace in the Opera Theatre (September) Music 12 As one of the busiest performing As a performing arts centre, Sydney Theatre 14 arts centres in the world, Sydney Opera House promotes and supports 1973 Opening Ceremony and Royal Concert with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Opera House provides over 1,500 many performing arts companies, Opera 16 Edinburgh (October 20) Kim Williams AM Sue Nattrass AO performances each year. With including the four key presenting Dance 18 Chairman Interim Chief Executive seven primary venues: the Concert partners: Sydney Symphony, 1979 Concert Hall Grand Organ completed Young Audiences & Education 20 (May) Hall, Opera Theatre, Drama Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Broadening the Experience 22 Theatre, Playhouse, The Studio, Company and The Australian Ballet 1999 Opening of The Studio – new venue for Building and Environment 24 Forecourt and Utzon Room, as well as many other important contemporary performing arts (March) Corporate Governance 26 ‘the House’ offers audiences an Australian companies and artists. 1999 Jørn Utzon is re-engaged and appointed design consultant to the Sydney Opera The Trust 28 opportunity to experience the best Sydney Opera House also has House (August) from every performing art form. The Executive Team 30 increased the profile and reach 2000 Sydney Opera House Producers Unit The experience is broadened with of its own programs, with more People and Culture 32 established (October) a ‘must-visit’ harbour-side precinct than 700 performances this Financials 34 that offers dining, shopping and year offering an eclectic mix of 2002 Sydney Opera House Utzon Design Financial Statements 36 Principles published (May) entertainment opportunities. artistic and cultural activities Government Reporting 54 for all ages from the educational 2003 Sydney Opera House Conservation Plan Performance List 64 through to the experimental. published (June) Strategic Plan 2003/08 67 2003 State Heritage Listing achieved (December) Index 68 2004 Backstage Tour launched (April) Sponsors 69 2004 Utzon Room opened – first venue at Sydney Annual Giving Program 70 Opera House designed by Jørn Utzon (September) Contact Information 72 Location Map Inside Back Cover 2004 Recording Studio opened (October) 2005 National Heritage Listing achieved (July) 2006 Asian Language Tour launched in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (January) 2006 Colonnade opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II – designed by Jørn Utzon, it is the first change to the exterior of Cover: the building since its completion in 1973 Officially recognised as a global cultural icon, (March) Sydney Opera House welcomes everyone through live performance every day. 2007 World Heritage Listing achieved (June) 1 Jørn Utzon. Photo Jozef Vissel courtesy Josef Lebovic Gallery Officially acknowledging our unique place in the world, UNESCO Meeting our commitment to Live Redefining how we want to be Demonstrating that our new safety announced Sydney Opera House’s World Heritage Listing on Performance Every Day, live perceived in the world, we undertook initiatives are working, lost time 28th June 2007, the youngest cultural site ever to be included. broadcasts, anniversary celebrations, a broad review of our brand, engaging through injuries fell to 4.21 hours per The listing came18 months after nomination, 33 years after our world premieres, prize-winning Trustees, staff, presenters and other thousand, down from 9.25 in 2005/6 official opening and 50 years after Jørn Utzon was announced programs, new artists and new key stakeholders in the process and Workers Compensation cases fell as winner of the design competition. (Refer page 25) audiences were encompassed in this and crystallising its essence as Live to 27, down from 57 in 2005/6. These year’s performance fare. Sydney Performance Every Day. In March substantial ongoing improvements are Symphony, Opera Australia, The 2007, we launched an extensive a direct result of initiatives introduced Australian Ballet, Sydney Theatre program of engagement to translate in collaboration with our business Company and Sydney Opera House the brand essence into every element partners. (Refer page 33) all contributed to an increase of 7% of performance and visitor experience in the total audience for the year to and to embed it into every aspect of Designed to enrich Australia’s cultural 1,212,270. (Refer page 10) our culture. (Refer page 55) future at its most important venue, our Annual Giving Program was Successfully expanding our own Commencing major improvements to successfully launched in March 2007. programs to encompass greater accessibility, work began on the $38 The fund is to support performance, diversity and use of performance million Western Foyers Project this access and education initiatives, venues, Sydney Opera House year with completion due in 2009. including bringing artists to the stage presentations achieved a 68% Realising the vision of Jørn Utzon, the and young or disadvantaged people increase in audiences (to 313,727). project will complement the exterior to the performing arts. 288 people Sydney Opera House tours also colonnade opened by HM Queen donated a total of $473,746 and broadened their offering and grew tour Elizabeth II in March 2006. In addition $617,870 has been pledged. A further attendances by 21% (to 328,224). to a completely refurbished foyer, a $1m has been pledged for capital (Refer page 11 and 23) 40-person lift will link to the Western projects. (Refer page 70) Theatres and new escalators will provide access from the Box Office to the Southern Foyers. (Refer page 25) 2 Planet Earth courtesy NASA 3 Financial and Operating Performance only to financial viability but also in providing it must address effectively. Sue Nattrass has I am pleased to report that Sydney Opera enriching experiences such as the Public generously stepped aside as a Trustee to House has had another solid year of Program of community events in 2007/8. undertake the role of Interim Chief Executive until Richard Evans can commence. performance with operating revenues growing The Annual Giving Program, launched by 31%, an increase of $13.5m (refer page in March 2007, represents another key Thank You 34) for more information. There were also a focus for the future. This Program enables On behalf of the Trust, I would like to number of important milestones during the Sydney Opera House to underpin a wide thank the New South Wales Government year in the delivery of the range of public variety of programs and ensure that what for its continued support and sympathetic experiences on the site. In spite of a number of is presented on our stages and spaces is of consideration. I would also like to record challenges in the operating circumstances of the fitting character for a World Heritage listed thanks on behalf of the Trust to the dedicated building, financially our operations were sound. international performing arts centre. Executive Team and the workforce for the Total performing arts activities saw an increase Work continues in the major venue sustained commitment and quality of their of 7% in audiences over the year (to 1,212,270 improvement program of which the current contribution to audience and visitor services patrons). A number of outstanding Australian Accessibility and Western Foyers Project is in delivering good business outcomes. and international artists and new collaborations part. The Trust remains hopeful that clarity The Trust extends its warm thanks to our provided meaningful experiences for new and in the path forward will be achieved over presenting and commercial partners and existing audiences. Central to that achievement the next 12 months, giving confidence in to the many artists and their technical were the innovative and diverse programs the ability to secure the grander project for support teams for their unstinting effort in offered by our major presenting partners, major venue renewal in the medium term. continuing to offer inspiring experiences to Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia, Sydney the diverse audiences we collectively serve. Theatre Company and The Australian Ballet. Board and Executive Changes Three new Trustees commenced this year Finally, I offer my own warm appreciation Sydney Opera House’s own programs to replace the three vacancies previously and thanks to my fellow Trustees for their achieved a 68% growth in audience numbers reported in the last annual report.