Concert Hall
Arguably the biggest attraction of the Sydney Opera House, the Concert Hall is the largest performance venue inside the Opera House. The interiors of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall can only be described as majestic. Featuring a cathedral-esque ambience and unparalleled scale, the Concert Hall is unlike any other venue in the world. Located directly underneath the white sails that define the Sydney Opera House, this venue has hosted some truly spectacular performances over the years. Adding to the glamour and charm of the building are panels made from white birch timber, which adore the high-vaulted ceiling. Another major highlight of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall is that it houses the world's largest mechanical tracker-action pipe, with over 10,000 pipes! Outside of all the pomp and glamour, what's truly special about the venue is the fact that despite its large size, it never feels crowded but gives patrons an intimate experience.
Typically, the Concert Hall is known to host orchestral performances, having hosted some truly iconic operas in the last decade. Recently, the venue has also started hosting contemporary music performances, which helps attract a younger crowd. Officially home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Concert Hall has also played host to presenters and performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Aung San Suu Kyi, Julia Andrews, Germaine Greer, Kanye West, Luciano Pavarotti, Janet Jackson, Prince, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even Pope John Paul II. The Concert Hall is scheduled to host equally awesome talent in 2019 and if you're planning on visiting the venue, our Sydney Opera House Concert Hall seating plan has all the information you need.
Navigating the Theatre
The Concert Hall in Sydney Opera House is the biggest performance space in the venue. With over 2670 seats that encircle the main stage, there are many viewing angles, each offering a unique experience. Let's take a detailed look at each of the seating sections in the Concert Hall to help you identify the best seats.
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Stalls
The biggest seating section in the Concert Hall is the stalls. Featuring a single block of seats which are located directly opposite the stage, offering viewers a great look at the stage. There's a slight curve in each row, but given that the venue mostly hosts operas and musical performances, even the corner seats aren't bad. The stalls section has 22 rows in total, starting from A to X. Seats in this section are numbered in the range of 6 to 43, moving from right to left. This section has 774 seats in total.
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Circle
Behind the stalls are the two circle sections. While the layout appears to be two separate sections, there's an aisle dividing it in two. The first subsection features a singular block of seats like the stalls with 10 rows labelled between A to K. Seats in this subsection fall in the range of 5 to 45, moving right to left. Behind the first subsection is the second subsection of the circle. This subsection features a single block of seats which is flanked on either side with a smaller block of seats. There are 13 rows in this subsection in the range of L to Y and the seats are numbered between 1 to 49. This section has 909 seats in total.
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Box
The Concert Hall features six box seats that encircle the theatre, with six platform boxes on either side of the theatre. Each box has a different layout and has different number of seats. The box immediately next to the choir and organ section is labelled platform box F and goes up to box A, next to the circle. On the right side, the boxes are labelled from Z to U. The boxes house a total of 694 seats.
Which Seats Offer the Best View
Given just how many options are available at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, finding the best seats can be a little tricky. If you don't mind spending, we would recommend opting for the middle seats in rows D to F. These seats are great because they fall immediately in front of the stage, offering viewers a great view of the stage without any obstructions. If you don't mind a vantage point view of the stage, seats in the middle of the first row of the circle are also great.
Which Seats Offer the Best Value for Money
Unwilling to spend too much on each ticket? There are many value for money seats available in all three sections of the theatre. The middle seats in rows N to S are great since they don't cost as much as the front row seats but offer a clean view of the stage. If you're watching an opera where the sound quality matters more than the view of the stage, you can opt for the box seats next to the theatre as well.
Practical Information
Accessibility: The Concert Hall is accessible for wheelchair users for as far as the front of the stalls. Beyond that, patrons have to take stairs.
Wheelchair: There is space for up to four wheelchairs, two on either side of the auditorium.
Restroom : There are two wheelchair accessible toilets on the lower ground level of the Opera House. One is located near the Opera Kitchen and the second at the bottom of the escalators connecting to East Circular Quay. On the western theatre foyer, there are two accessible toilets available. The first one is next to the Playhouse and the second between the Studio and Drama Theatre.
Assisted Listening Systems: To enable all patrons to enjoy the show at the Sydney Opera House, there are two services available. The first is an FM Augmentation System, which can be accessed from the cloakroom. The second is a hearing loop which enhances the quality and frequency of sound inside the theatre. This too can be obtained from the cloakroom. Both these devices are free of cost.
Bars: There are bars available at the Joan Sutherland Theatre and the Concert Hall, which open 90 minutes before the start of a show and during intervals. The Western Foyer Theatre, which houses the Drama Theatre and Playhouse, also has bars that are available pre-theatre.
