The Sydney Opera House celebrates its 50th anniversary on October 20, 2023.

The American architect Frank Gehry called it “a building that changed the image of an entire country” and you could argue that the modern perception of Australia has a profound relationship with that stunning structure on Sydney Harbour. Yet, it has a controversial history. Jørn Utzon, the Danish architect responsible for the iconic shell design, declined an invitation to the opening ceremony claiming he would make “negative comments”. Also, in speeches made that day, there was no mention of the building’s founding father – the man who proposed the idea of an opera house for Sydney, then lobbied tooth and nail in tricky political circumstances to turn his dream into a reality. His name was Sir Eugene Goossens, an English composer and conductor who thrived in Australia after the Second World War. He became a celebrity as we understand one now, only to be run out of his adopted home in 1956 “like a diseased rat”, as one commentator wrote, his plans for the opera house in tatters.

The scandal shocked and puzzled Australia in equal measure. What happened and why have this visionary man’s many extraordinary achievements been largely forgotten? Music journalist Phil Hebblethwaite traces the intriguing story of Sir Eugene Goossens, meeting his niece, a former student, and experts in Australian classical music and cultural life. We’ll find out that the Goossens saga was just the beginning of the troubles for the Sydney Opera House… With contributions from Jennie Goossens, Richard Bonynge, Ita Buttrose, Dr Drew Crawford and Professor Marguerite Johnson. Extra research by Barnaby Smith.

Written and presented by Phil Hebblethwaite

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

(Photo of Sir Eugene Goosens c/o Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division)