The Hon Nathan Rees, NSW Premier and Minister for the Arts, today announced a State Memorial for Sydney Opera House master architect, Jørn Utzon, who died in Copenhagen on 28 November last year. The Jørn Utzon State Memorial will take place in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Wednesday 25 March, 2009 at 11am.
The Premier said, "All who knew Jørn Utzon spoke of his humility, his sense of humour, his professional integrity, and the warmth and loyalty of his dealings with colleagues and friends. He was a man greatly loved for his personal qualities as much as his professional achievements. We are indebted to the man who gave Sydney one of the great buildings of the world and the acknowledged symbol of our nation, and the gateway to our great city."
Chair of the Sydney Opera House Trust, Mr Kim Williams, added, "It is only fitting that we pay tribute to Jørn Utzon with a State Memorial featuring some of the artists and personalities that brought life to its venues and gave so many people pleasure over the past 35 years."
Sydney Opera House CEO, Mr Richard Evans, continued, "The State Memorial will be a celebration of the creative genius and enduring spirit of Jørn Utzon. Sydney Opera House is a place for all people and we invite the community to share in the celebration.
