HOME | BOOMERAMA | TRAVEL | EATS & DRINKS | THEATRE | MUSIC | ISSUES | HEALTH | NESTS & NEST EGGS | BOOKS | FASHION | ART & MUSEUMS

HOME > THEATRE > ARCHIVES 2008 >

Chairman of Sydney Opera House Trust, Kim Williams AM, has paid tribute to visionary Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, who died peacefully on Saturday in Denmark aged 90.

“Jørn Utzon was an architectural and creative genius who gave Australia and the world a great gift.” Mr Williams said. “Sydney Opera House is core to our national cultural identity and a source of great pride to all Australians. It has become the most globally recognised symbol of our country.”

Mr Williams said Sydney Opera House Board of Trustees, management, staff and all others associated with the building are truly saddened by the death of Mr Utzon.
“Our warmest thoughts are with his wife, Lis, and the Utzon family at this time. He will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

Mr Williams said Jørn Utzon’s son, Jan Utzon, has flown to Denmark following an extended visit to Sydney where he was working on the most recent interior improvements to his masterpiece, the Accessibility and Western Foyers project, the largest project to be undertaken since his re-engagement in 1999.

“We will hold a memorial service in honour of Jørn Utzon in early 2009. To mark this sad event, tonight Sydney Opera House will dim the lights on its sails for an hour between 8:30pm and 9:30pm AEDT.”

A special tribute book will be available for the public to sign in the Sydney Opera House from Monday 1 December and ONLINE.

*Based on a media release issued by the Sydney Opera House. CLICK HERE to read full release.