Luciano Pavarotti and Dame Joan Sutherland singing a scene from Gaetano Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, 1987. | Luciano Pavarotti

Enjoy this rare look behind the doors of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, before the space becomes alive with the activities and performances of the day. As part of our Decade of Renewal, important upgrades have been made to the accessibility of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, to ensure that the Sydney Opera House truly is a place for everyone. In this video you’ll see our new level passageway, providing an accessible path of travel from the Southern to the Northern Foyer. A new lift connects all level

Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti perform 'Brindisi' from Verdi's 'La Traviata'. The two opera greats are conducted by Richard Bonynge at the Sydney Opera House in 1983. | ABC Classic

On this day in 1926, Australia's greatest operatic voice, and the megastar our opera theatre got its name from, was born. What better way to celebrate the occasion than with this historic treat; Dame Joan Sutherland performing La Traviata on our stage with Luciano Pavarotti. 📽 Courtesy of ABC Classic | Sydney Opera House