More than eight million people visit the Sydney Opera House each year to marvel over (and selfie in front of) its soaring sails. Now, those unable to make the trek down under can get their own taste of the famous landmark.
On Wednesday the Opera House and the Google Cultural Institute announced a partnership which will see the launch of an online collection, that aims to make Australian art, design and history accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world.
The online exhibition will showcase a 360 degree experience capturing a day in the life of the Opera House -- one of the world’s busiest entertainment precincts -- between acts, waking up, rehearsing and at rest. But also, the spectacular harbour view it holds from Bennelong Point.
From sunrise to sunset, users can manually rotate the camera to view the landmark from whichever angle they choose.
In the early hours of the morning, you’ll see joggers make tracks past its floor to ceiling windows as the sun rises on the harbour.
As a prized venue for the biggest names in music and entertainment, the footage shows young Australian soprano Nicole Car, cellist and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra itself under the baton of David Robertson, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director performing inside the Opera House.
By sun down, you see the Sydney Harbour Bridge light up with cars as city workers make their commute home, while ferries whiz back and forth between Manly and Circular Quay.
Behind the scenes of the 360 degree experience.
Unveiled by NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant, the collection of 50 online exhibits weaves together rare archival photography, performances, early architectural drawings, historical documents, little-known interviews and Street View imagery to tell the story of the Opera House in a contemporary way.
“Innovation is part of the Opera House’s DNA and it is wonderful that our partnership with the Google Cultural Institute has enabled us to weave together the many strands of the Opera House story -- the times and people who made it possible together with its vibrant present and exciting future -- really for the first time,” Louise Herron AM, CEO of Sydney Opera House said in a statement.
You can visit the Sydney Opera House on the Google Cultural Institute to discover the collection from your mobile phone, tablet or computer at g.co/sydneyoperahouse or via the new Google Arts & Culture mobile app from your iOS or Android device.