Curtain call: The Opera House secrets made public after five decades

One of the highlights of the opening day of the Sydney Opera House in October 1973 was the display of the two John Coburn tapestries, the Curtain of the Sun and the Curtain of the Moon.

But a year after the official opening of the building by Queen Elizabeth II, the curtains for the opera and drama halls, went into storage because they didn’t meet NSW fire standards and were considered by theatre and opera directors as “too distracting”.

Fifty years later, the colourful Curtain of the Sun is on display again at the Joan Sutherland Theatre as part of the Sydney Opera House’s Open Weekend, to celebrate the half century anniversary.

People funnel through the Joan Sutherland Theatre within the Opera House as part of the building’s 50th birthday celebrations held over the weekend.Credit: Nikki Short

The historic tapestry in bright earthy tones, is considered to be the most important of its kind in Australia due to its size and exquisite design, and has only been displayed a few times since the 1980s.

The news has been particularly welcomed by the abstract artist’s three children Kristin, Stephen and Daniel, who moved to France with their parents in the late 1960s, for Coburn to create the curtains using French techniques and Australian merino wool.

The three have been part of the celebrations at the World Heritage-listed building this weekend, with youngest son Daniel having the opportunity to ask the children of Danish designer Jørn Utzon’s children Jan and Lin, what their father thought of the Coburn tapestries.

Utzon left the building he designed in 1966, never to return again, with Australian architect Peter Hall completing the interiors of the building, including commissioning the two giant tapestries that took six people to carry into the building.

“I wanted to hear if dad’s work was received well by Utzon.

“Jan said his father had wanted European art from people like Picasso and Le Corbusier for the interiors, but [he] had been very pleased when he saw the Coburn curtains, that his vision of colour and modern art were realised,” Daniel said.

His elder brother Stephen, who went on to work as a tapestry conservator, including working on this one, his father’s major work, said he would love to make a second set of curtains – with the same company in France – that would comply with NSW fire regulations.

Stephen Coburn, Kristin Coburn and Daniel Coburn in front of their father John Coburn’s artwork Curtain of The Sun in the Joan Sutherland Theatre within the Sydney Opera HouseCredit: Nikki Short

“We know the looms still exist at Pinton Freres in Aubusson, France and the colourful merino wool fibres are available too...we would love to have them in perpetuity for all Australians to see,” Stephen Coburn said.

“It’s an absolute joy to see dad’s work again and see it treated with the respect it deserves,” said his daughter Kristin Coburn, who will appear on Sunday at 3pm in a livestream event in the Joan Sutherland Theatre to talk about her father’s creation.

“It was devastating for dad [that] the curtains were taken down ... the Australian viewing public is yet to experience fully this significant piece of art that was produced especially for the Opera House. We are pushing for another set of curtains, so they can be properly appreciated,” she said.

A spectator is seen wearing a Sydney Opera House tribute upon his head. Credit: Louie Douvis

Over 37,000 visitors are expected over the Open Weekend, with members of the public walking through the Opera House’s two largest theatres that have played host to some of the world’s greatest artists.

The sails of the Opera House are illuminated with lasers to celebrate its 50th anniversary.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Festivities end Sunday at 8pm, with an audiovisual laser show called ICON, by artist Robin Fox, which uses high-powered beams from across the water at Admiralty House and Campbell Cove, to trace the geometry and architecture of the building.

Other entertainment today will include First Nations performances from the Mornington Island Dancers, the same group that performed at the Opera House’s official opening in 1973, as well as a special didgeridoo performance by Matthew Doyle.

Kinetic energy floor tiles will light up the Opera House’s Western Broadwalk, generating electricity as people walk, jump and dance across the tiles.

A pair of seagulls welcomes people as they funnel through barriers at the Opera House Credit: Nikki Short

There will be food trucks and outdoor roving performances by local artists including the Bin Chicken, Seagulls, Bindi Bosses, Lebanese Drummers, Deep Sea Diver, Life Savers and The Fops.

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