Play It Safe

The Sydney Opera House was officially opened on October 20, 1973. Every step to getting the building completed was fraught with controversy. Danish architect Jørn Utzon's design was rescued from the rejection bin and eventually became his greatest work, leading to a Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2003. Yet fights with Sydney authorities led him to quit the project before it was completed. The initial reaction from the public was mixed, with some calling it breathtakingly beautiful while others dubbed it ridiculous and referred to it as a dish rack. In the years since, it has become a beloved landmark and a UNESCO World heritage Site. The Sydney Opera House hosts more than 1500 performances for more than a million people every year.   

To celebrate the Sydney Opera House's 50th anniversary, they posted a music video with a song written and performed by Tim Minchin called "Play It Safe." The video features a long list of those who have performed at the opera house (listed at the YouTube page). The lyrics belie the venue's actual mission to bravely stretch the limits of creativity by taking risks and to expand the very idea of art and performance. (via Metafilter)