On 29 September 1973, the Sydney Symphony gave its first official performance in the new Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Charles Mackerras returned home to conduct and Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson was the soloist. The gala programme was all-Wagner with a ceremonial touch in the form of "Dich, teure Halle" from Tannhäuser. That, said Mackerras later, was most appropriate: teure Halle means, among other things, "expensive hall"!
Simone Young is the Australian conductor returning home and renowned Wagnerian soprano Christine Brewer is our guest.