The most famous opera houses in the world

Since the beginning of human civilization, theater has served as the main source of entertainment. Nowadays, theater and opera performances have not lost any of their popularity and significance, and thousands of people around the world visit theaters every day and enjoy this wonderful art form.

The building of any theater is a unique world with its own history, traditions and secrets. Let's talk about those that are known throughout the world.

La Scala Theater is rightfully the most famous theater peace. And most of all it is associated with opera, although dramatic performances and ballet also occupy a significant place in the repertoire.

La Scala, photo Rudiger Wolk

It was built in 1778. The horseshoe-shaped hall has five tiers of boxes. Works were performed on the stage of La Scala famous composers Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi. The theater is famous for its impeccable acoustics.

Many people associate Australia with the building of the Opera House in Sydney. It is easily recognizable and is one of the main attractions of the country. This is perhaps one of the most iconic theaters of our time.

Sydney Opera House, photo Shannon Hobbs

The opening took place in 1973. During construction, the main emphasis was on acoustics and visibility. That is why every theatergoer feels as if he has purchased a ticket to the best seat in the hall.

The theater building became home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Theater Company, Australian Ballet and Australian Opera. More than 1,500 performances take place here annually.

3. Bolshoi Theater

Bolshoi Theater in Moscow - one of the leading theaters in Russia and around the world. Together with the best symphony orchestra, he survived fire, war and revolution.

Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, photo jimmyweee

At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a statue of Apollo in a chariot, anticipating the grandiose performances taking place in the theater. The theater's ballet troupe is very famous. Yuri Grigorovich staged the legendary " Swan Lake" and "Golden Age". The Bolshoi was opened after a large-scale reconstruction in 2011.

4. Vienna State Opera

Built in 1869, the theater for a long time had a reputation as a center musical life Vienna and all of Austria.

Vienna State Opera, photo JP

During World War II, the building was bombed and almost destroyed. The staircase and some other parts were miraculously preserved. It was restored only in 1955. Today it continues to be one of the world's main opera venues. Traditional balls are held annually under the vaults of the Vienna Opera.

The Palace of Catalan Music is located in. The building was officially opened in 1908 and almost immediately became a symbol of the city. The magnificent glass ceiling, rich paintings, stained glass windows and sculptures turned it into a real work of art. This is one of the few theaters included in the list cultural heritage UNESCO.

Palau de la Musica Catalana, photo Jiuguang Wang

The palace is one of the main theater and music venues in Barcelona, ​​where many world celebrities perform. Important international meetings and conferences are also held here, and excursions are organized for tourists.

Theater Les Celestins is the main art center of the city of Lyon in France. This is an opera house that is suitable for grand performances and can accommodate over 1000 people. The horseshoe-shaped hall is divided into several levels, so even spectators sitting far from the stage can see and hear everything well. The interior is designed in a royal style using red and gold tones. The outside of the building is more austere and decorated with statues.

Les Celestins in Lyon, photo Mirej

For more than two centuries, Les Celestins has staged the best plays, operas, dramatic performances and concerts.

The Covent Garden Theater is well known throughout the world. Its stage hosts productions of the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet. World stars have performed in this majestic building. classical music, since 1858.

Royal Opera House Convent Garden, photo

Previously, it was possible to enter the theater only before the start of the performance if you had a ticket. Today you can explore it by taking a short excursion.

Another famous world stage is the Metropolitan Opera musical theater on Broadway in New York. This best theater. Celebrities such as Enrico Caruso and Placido Domingo played leading roles here.

The Metropolitan Opera House, photo Blehgoaway

The Met puts on more than two hundred performances each year. From time to time they are broadcast on television and radio.

9. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

If you want to visit a theater that is as old as art itself, head to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in . This is a classic ancient amphitheater built in 161 AD. e. There was originally a roof over it, but it was destroyed.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, photo Yucatan

The theater seats 5,000 people and still hosts plays, ballets and other events on its stage. Even Elton John gave his concert at the Odeon.

10. Chicago Theater

The Chicago Theater was built in 1921 during the so-called Golden Age of Entertainment and was the first luxury theater of its kind to house movies, musicals and shows. Gradually he became business card Chicago. Today, Chicago theater is a mixture of different genres and styles, from plays and comedies to dance shows and pop concerts.

The Chicago Theatre, photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

There is more in the world huge amount theaters, each of which is worthy of attention. During your travels around cities and countries, be sure to visit theaters, and it doesn’t matter whether they are famous throughout the world or known only in small town. In any case, you will get a unique opportunity to touch wonderful world theatrical art.

Tickets for performances by world-famous theaters must be booked well in advance. Let's try to find out why these attractions attract theatergoers from all over the planet and how much a ticket to the best theater in the world costs.

Of course, this list clearly lacks the Bolshoi or Mariinsky theaters, but we decided to devote a separate article to the most famous theaters in Russia.

The most famous theaters in the world

The capitals of Europe are bustling with life. Paris, London, Milan - not only fashionistas and tourists with cameras flock here. Intellectuals - connoisseurs of architecture, theater, opera, ballet and music - will also be delighted.

Covent Garden Theater

London

The capital of Great Britain is rich in theaters with history. It was on the stage of London's Globe that Shakespeare's plays were first staged. But although the Globe, which has survived two renovations, still operates today, the status of London's most famous theater belongs to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, home of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera.

The modern building is already the third. In 1732, the theater opened its doors for the first time to spectators who came to watch the production of “Secular Customs” based on the play by William Congreve. 76 years later, the Covent Garden building was destroyed by fire. It took 9 months to recover. The newly opened theater delighted the audience with Macbeth. In 1856, the theater burned down again, but two years later it was reborn from the ashes as we can see it now.

Large-scale reconstruction theater took place in 1990. Now its 4-tier hall can accommodate 2,268 visitors. Ticket prices for the Covent Garden Theater range from £15 to £135.

Grand Opera

Paris

The most famous theater in Paris is the Grand Opera. In 1669, Louis XIV “gave the go-ahead” to the poet Pierre Perrin and composer Robert Camber to found an opera house. Over the centuries, the theater changed its name and location several times, until in 1862 it ended up in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, in a building designed by Charles Garnier, built in 1875 by the architect Charles Garnier.

The facade of the theater is luxurious - it is decorated with four sculptures (personifications of Drama, Music, Poetry and Dance), as well as seven arches. The building is crowned with a majestic shining dome.

The stage of the Grand Opera has seen the opera of German, Italian and French composers over the years. It was here that the premiere of Stravinsky's opera "The Moor" took place. Its current name is the Palais Garnier, and it is perhaps the most visited theater in the world.

Vein

Austria is the birthplace of many classics: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, whose music formed the basis of the Vienna Classical music school. Perhaps this is why the Vienna Opera can confidently be called the most famous opera house in the world.

The opera building was built in 1869. The opening was marked by Mozart's opera Don Giovanni.

Since the theater building was built in the extremely common neo-Renaissance style, it was repeatedly subjected to merciless criticism - the façade of the building seemed boring and unremarkable to the residents of Vienna.

In the Second world war the theater was partially destroyed, but in 1955 its grand re-opening took place with the opera “Fidelio” by Beethoven. In terms of the number of performances, none of the other opera houses can compare with the Vienna Opera. Over 285 days a year, about 60 operas are staged in this building on the Ringstrasse. Every year, a week before the first day of Lent, the Viennese Ball is held here, an event included in the list of intangible cultural wealth protected by UNESCO.

La Scala

Milan>

It was in Renaissance Italy that modern opera art. In 1776, the Milanese architect Giuseppe Piermarini took a fancy to a piece of land on the site of the destroyed church of Santa Lucia della Scala. It was decided to build an opera house on it, which eventually received its name from its “ancestor”.

During the construction of the foundation, a marble slab with the image of the ancient Roman actor Pylades was found underground, which the builders took as a sign from above.

La Scala's first opera was “Europe Recognized” by composer Antonio Salieri. It was within these walls that the orchestras of Gavazzeni Gianandrea, Arturo Toscanini and Riccardo Muti first performed.

Today La Scala is rightfully considered one of the most famous theaters in the world. This is the first thing after the Milan Cathedral that tourists who arrive in Milan see.

Last time The theater was reconstructed in the early 2000s. The opening took place in 2004, and Salieri’s opera “Europe Renewed” was again shown on the renovated stage.

Palace of Catalan Music

Barcelona

A rather young theater (compared to previous ones), the Palace of Catalan Music in Barcelona opened its doors to musical aesthetes in 1908. Barcelona loves Gaudi's Spanish modernism, and therefore it was decided to build the country's main concert hall in the same style - waves and spirals here prevail over straight lines.

The façade of the Palace reminds us that in Spain, more than anywhere else, European and Arab cultures are closely intertwined.

But the main feature of the concert hall is its lighting. The light is completely natural. The dome of the Palace of Catalan Music is made of colored glass mosaics. The rays of the sun, when refracted, create an indescribable effect!

Sydney Opera House

Sydney

The Sydney Opera House may not be the most visited theater in the world, but it is definitely the most recognizable and unusual theater. Its white sail-shaped walls have become one of the modern wonders of the world.

The opening ceremony took place in October 1973 with the participation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Everyone knows what it looks like Sydney Theater from the outside, and now look how it looks inside - what a delightful combination of futurism and gothic!

The total area of ​​the building exceeds two hectares. Inside you will find nearly a thousand rooms, because the building is the “headquarters” for the Australian Opera, Sydney symphony orchestra, National Ballet and Sydney Theater Company.

Lighting the theater consumes energy comparable to the electricity consumption of a small Australian town.

Kabuki-za

Tokyo

We know a lot about European theaters, but what about the theater in the East? What are the characteristics of Japanese theater culture in particular?

Classical Japanese theater combines drama, music, dance, and poetry on stage. The scenery of the performances is simple, which cannot be said about the masks and kimonos of the actors. The meaning of the presentation is tough nut to crack, which cannot be understood by an unprepared viewer unfamiliar with Japanese culture and unable to understand the many subtle references to mythology, literature and history.

12 of the world's most beautiful and majestic opera houses. Opera houses have always been considered a symbol of wealth, enlightenment and greatness. A place where art, luxury, power, intrigue and secrets lived, and that is why the rulers of all European states tried to outdo each other in the monumentality of buildings and the pomp of interiors. At the moment, the importance of opera productions has not lost its popularity, but in most cases, opera and ballet theaters are more perceived as a kind of attraction than a platform for leisure activities. La Scala
Milan, Italy

In the history of opera, there is no other opera house as revered, as often copied, as often cited as a standard of comparison, as La Scala. But La Scala is not only beautiful place for opera productions, it is the very symbol of opera - Italian opera.

The theater building was built in 1776-1778 on the site of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala, from where the theater got its name “La Scala” - the opera house in Milan. It is curious that during the excavation of the site for the construction of the theater, a large marble block was found, on which Pylades, the famous mime, was depicted Ancient Rome. This was perceived as good sign.

The theater building, built by the architect G. Piermarini, is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is designed in a strict neoclassical style and has impeccable acoustics. During the Second World War, the theater was destroyed and restored to its original form by engineer L. Secchi, which was reopened in 1946. “Scala” (as the Italians call the theater) opened in August 1778 with two operas, including A. Salieri’s opera “Recognized Europe”, specially written for this occasion. Oprah de Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo, Monaco

The Monte Carlo Opera House stands on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, connected to the casino by a red marble foyer. The construction of the building took only six months, and the result was an extremely elaborate façade in the style of the Second Empire with unusually richly decorated towers and sculptures by Gustav Doré and Sarah Bernhardt. By the way, the author of the architectural design of the opera house, Charles Garnier, had recently completed the construction of the Grand Opera building in Paris.

Teatro di San Carlo
Naples, Italy

San Carlo (Teatro San Carlo) - the opera house in Naples was opened in 1737. In 1816 it was restored again after a fire. The theater building designed by the architects Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Angelo Carasale for the Bourbon monarch Carlos III of Naples.

The theater experienced its greatest development in 1809-40, when its director was the famous impresario Barbaya. The new theater was admired not only for the works of art that were staged in the theater, but also for its architecture, gold decoration, and luxurious blue upholstery (blue and gold are the official colors of the Bourbons). The theater stage hosted world premieres of a number of operas by Rossini Donizetti and Giuseppe Verdi. Mariinsky Theater
St. Petersburg, Russia

The Mariinsky Theater is a symbol of Russian culture. His troupe dates back to 1783, when the Bolshoi Theater was opened in St. Petersburg, on the site of which the St. Petersburg Conservatory is now located. By order of Catherine the Great, the Bolshoi (Stone) Theater was erected on the site of this building, surpassing the largest theaters in Europe in splendor and splendor. It opened in 1783 with a performance of Paisiello's opera On the Moon.

In 1802, the theater was rebuilt by the architect Thomas de Thomon, and in 1836 it was reconstructed by Albert Kavos. The magnificent decorative decoration of the auditorium has largely been preserved to this day. The dazzling whiteness of the sculptures, the soft shine of gilding, the blue tone of the upholstery and draperies - this is the festive coloristic sound of the hall. The bright picturesque ceiling was made by E. Fracioli based on the sketches of Professor C. Dusi. A huge, three-tiered bronze chandelier with crystal pendants and candelabra were made with donations from the merchant K. Pleske, who was awarded a gold medal “in recognition of such a special artistic merit.” Palais Garnier
Paris, France

Over the two hundred years of its existence, the Paris Opera has changed thirteen different halls. And none of them corresponded to the role that opera played in high French society. In 1852, Napoleon III came to power. In the same year, he decided to begin a radical renovation of the capital.

The work was entrusted to a man who was by no means a Parisian in spirit, who thought only about the economic development of the city and did not feel any nostalgia for old Paris. The competition to create an opera house attracted 171 projects. All the masters of architecture presented their works, including Viollet-Le-Duc himself. However, the winner was a little-known young man, Charles Garnier, whose only record was the 1848 Rome Grand Prix.

In decorating the interior of the theater, Garnier used many elements of the Rococo style. Despite all the absurdity and variety of techniques, which are often at odds with each other, the building as a whole produces a harmonious and monumental impression. Apparently that is why in 1923 it was ranked among the architectural monuments protected by the state. Bavarian State Opera
Munich, Germany

The Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper) is one of the leading opera stages in Germany. Located in Munich (2,100 places). Founded in 1818. In 1963 it was opened after restoration with the performance “Woman Without a Shadow” by R. Strauss. The prototype of this building was the Odeon theater in Paris.

The building of the Bavarian Opera was built on the site of a former Franciscan monastery. In 1818, the theater opened its doors to visitors, but five years later it burned to the ground. Residents of the city believed that this was a punishment from above. But already in 1825, the Bavarian Opera reopened, and performances there continue to this day. Mikhailovsky Theater
St. Petersburg, Russia

The brilliant history of the Mikhailovsky Theater began with the choice of the building's architect. A subtle connoisseur of art, Alexander Bryullov is building the building of the first city musical theater, fitting it into the already established ensemble of the Square of Arts, and therefore the facades of the theater are made according to the designs of Karl Rossi to “rhyme” with the building of the Mikhailovsky Palace.

Bryullov created magic box: the fact that a theater is hidden behind the modest façade can only be guessed by the roof, where a high stage box is visible behind the dome above the auditorium. All the splendor of the imperial theater is contained within: silver and velvet, mirrors and crystal, painting and modeling.

The theater hosts ballet master classes from leading teachers in Europe and America. At the invitation of Farukh Ruzimatov, Natalya Makarova, Jennifer Gube, Gilbert Mayer, Cyril Atanasoff, Mikhail Messerer worked with the ballet troupe of the Mikhailovsky Theater. Among other things, the Mikhailovsky Theater participates in the Arts Square festival and is one of the cultural platforms of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Teatro Amazonas
Manus, Brazil

The Amazon Opera House is the second largest theater in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, in the city of Manaus. Designed in 1881, opened in 1896, at the height of the so-called rubber rush in Brazil, becoming one of the symbols of the luxurious and serene life of the times Belle Epoque Western civilization. He amazed his contemporaries with his pomp. After the end of the rubber boom, it fell into disrepair, but was restored again in the early 1990s. Capacity 701 people. There are stalls, mezzanine and amphitheater.

Romanian Athenaeum
Bucharest, Romania

The Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall built in the neoclassical style and opened in 1888. In front of the building there is a small park with a statue of the Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu. The inner dome of the building is painted with frescoes depicting key points Romanian history. Recognized as a symbol of Romanian culture, the Athenaeum was included in the European Cultural Heritage List in 2007.

Metropolitan Opera House
New York, USA

One of the largest theaters in the world, the Metropolitan Opera, opened on October 22, 1883 with a performance of Charles Gounod's opera Faust. In the early years, the theater gave preference to Wagner's operas, and the German theater troupe was led by conductor Leopold Damrosch. The old Metropolitan Opera building hosted the premieres of works by Giacomo Puccini: "The Girl from the West" in December 1910 and, in December 1918, the triptych "The Cloak", "Sister Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi". In October 1958, Samuel Barbara premiered Vanessa, which won the Pulitzer Prize for outstanding performance. piece of music.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Metropolitan Opera has been considered, along with the Vienna Opera House and La Scala Theater in Milan, the leading opera stage in the world.

It is often called "Meth" for short. The theater is open seven months a year: from September to April. Performances are performed daily. From May to June the theater goes on tour. In addition, in July the theater gives free performances in New York parks, attracting huge crowds. Oslo Opera House
Oslo, Norway

The New Opera House is the largest cultural institution in modern Norway. In addition, the opera building is the first example in world architectural practice when, during intermission, visitors can freely walk along the roof of the theater, which has a smooth slope towards the sea. The white, iceberg-like opera building rises straight out of the Oslofjord. The sloping roof, finished with slabs of white Carara marble, slopes down to the water and can also be used as a recreation area.

The building was designed by the Norwegian architectural bureau Snoehetta, which had previously designed a library in Alexandria. The main stage of the opera is designed for 1,365 spectators, two small stages - for 640. Orchestra pit main stage located below the water level. Drottningholm Palace Theater
Stockholm, Sweden

King Charles XVI Gustav and his family have lived in Drottningholm Palace since 1981, occupying some parts of it. This palace began to be built in 1662 for Queen Dovager Hedvig Eleonora according to the design of the architect Nicodemus Teccin the Elder in the Baroque style, typical of that time.

The palace is located on the island of Lowen, not far from the city center. Behind the palace is the court theater, one of the oldest operating theaters in the world. It was founded in 1766 by Queen Lovisa Ulrika and built by the architect K.F. Adelkrantz. Ballet troupe The theater revives productions from the 18th century. The palace is surrounded by a luxurious park with a regular French part, decorated with gazebos and labyrinths, and a landscaped English part with picturesque lawns and ponds. In 1991, Drottningholm Palace, with its park, theater and Chinese pavilion, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Bolshoi Theater in Moscow /tyts/

Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg) - one of the oldest and largest musical theaters Russia.

Teatro La Scala is a world famous opera house in Milan (Italy)

Rome Opera House

Opera House San Carlo, Naples, Italy

The Sydney Opera House, built in 1973 by Danish architect Jörn Utzon in the Expressionist style, is considered one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world. Also, the Sydney Opera House is the most important attraction of the entire continent. The two largest shell vaults form the ceilings of the two main halls: the Concert Hall and the Opera House. In other halls, the ceilings are formed using smaller vaults. The sail-shaped roof shells give the theater its uniqueness. On June 28, 2007, the Sydney Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sydney Opera House

Strasbourg Opera House

Colon - largest theater opera and ballet (as well as a center for classical music) throughout South America. Buenos Aires. Argentina

The Vienna State Opera was built in 1869. Unfortunately, during the difficult years of the occupation of Austria (1938-45), the theater experienced a serious decline in interest. In 1945, during the bombing of the Austrian capital, the theater building was destroyed. It took about 10 years to completely restore it. In addition to opera and ballet performances, this complex annually hosts theatrical masquerade balls.

Vienna State Opera

The official name is “Opera Garnier” or “Palace Garnier” (Palais Garnier), former names “National Academy of Music and Dance”, “Paris Opera”, “Grand Opera”. “Grand Opera” is a state opera house, the largest center of French musical and theatrical culture.

Odessa Opera House

One of the most prestigious in the world, the Metropolitan Opera House has existed since the 1880s, but it received its current status at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan only in September 1966. This legendary complex includes: a large auditorium with seating for 3,900 spectators, and three auxiliary venues. The most important decorative elements in the theater's interior are the monumental frescoes of the famous emigrant artist Marc Chagall.

Metropolitan Opera in New York

The main auditorium is the largest in the world, and despite its size, is known for its excellent acoustics.

Dresden State Opera ( Dresdner Staatsoper or Semperoper). One of the oldest opera houses in Germany

La Fenice

National Center for the Performing Arts (in Chinese: National Grand Theatre), called "The Egg", is a modern opera house in Beijing, China. Considered one of the modern wonders of the world, it is ellipsoidal in shape, made of glass and titanium and completely surrounded by an artificial lake. Built in 2007. National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing

Berlin State Opera (German) Staatsoper Berlin), also called the German State Opera (German). Deutsche Staatsoper), or the State Opera Unter den Linden (German). Staatsoper Unter den Linden) - the oldest theater building in Berlin

Romanian Athenaeum (Bucharest)

Zurich Opera House

Hungarian State Opera House

Teatro Massimo in Palermo

The ultra-modern opera house building in the center of Oslo was designed by the world-famous architectural bureau Snohetta in 2007. The main task of the architects was to organically fit the building into the urban development, the rocks of the Oslo Fjord and the coastal area of ​​the seaport, while connecting the historical city center with modern neighborhoods.

The main hall of the theater has a seating capacity of 1,364 and has a classic horseshoe shape, which allows for the highest acoustic characteristics. Main feature The theater now has a sloping roof, smoothly descending to the ground. She was chosen very quickly local residents, especially cyclists and skateboarders.

Oslo Opera House - Norway's national opera house

Royal Swedish Opera,Stockholm

Liceo Opera House, Barcelona

Palau de Musica Catalana,Barcelona,Spain

Theater Royal Covent Garden, London

Czech National Theater in Prague

Lviv Opera House

Opera House of Monte Carlo

Civic Opera House/Lyric Opera- Opera House in Chicago

War Memorial Opera House,San Francisco,California

Opera Bastille (Opéra Bastille) is the largest opera house in France (Paris)

Curtain,Palais Garnier,Paris,France

The Prague State Opera (Czech: Státní opera Praha) is an opera house in Prague, one of the most important in the Czech Republic, whose repertoire also includes ballets. The theater's repertoire is focused on foreign works (the Czech repertoire is traditionally staged at the National Theatre).

Munich Opera House,Germany

Amazon Theater or Amazonas (Teatro Amazonas) is an opera house located in the center of the Brazilian city of Manaus (Brazil)

Opera House (Markgräfliches Opernhaus), Germany

The Estates Theater is also famous for the fact that Amadeus Mozart conducted his premiere of Don Giovanni in 1787. This event is immortalized with a memorial plaque. On the occasion of the coronation of Leopold II, another premiere of Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus, 1791) was presented in this theater. Prague

Castle fine arts,Mexico

The luxurious Palace of Fine Arts, built in the Mexican capital in 1934, is an example of a mixture architectural styles Beaux-Arts and Art Deco, as evidenced by the walls of Carrara marble and the incredible splendor of the decor. A significant part of this magnificent building is occupied by concert halls opera house. This ensemble also includes a museum of architecture and national museum fine arts.