10 most famous opera houses in the world

In the drama theater, music performs an auxiliary function, and in the opera theater it is an integral part of the performance along with stage action and words.

Because of this, and also because of the peculiarities of the performance itself, not everyone likes the opera, and many performances gather half-empty halls.

However, there are places that are always sold out. Opera fans dream of getting to a performance, and artists dream of going on stage.

In addition, these theaters are architectural monuments, UNESCO lists them as World Heritage Sites, and tourists crowd at the entrance. Today we will talk about the ten most famous opera houses in the world.

10 Covent Garden in London

At the most famous opera house in England Covent Garden in London rich history and difficult fate. The building was built in the 20-30s of the XVIII century, and the first performance took place in 1732.

For almost 100 years, Covent Garden was one of two theaters in the capital (the other was Drury Lane), until it burned down in 1808. The new building was erected in just 9 months, but this time it lasted even less: the second fire happened in 1856.

For the third time, the theater was built for 2 years, opening it with a production of Meyerbeer’s Huguenots.

The next test fell on its lot already in the XNUMXth century: during the First World War it served as a warehouse, and during the Second World War they turned it into a disco.

The revival began only in 1945 and, fortunately, no more serious incidents happened to him.

9. Metropolitan Opera in New York

Metropolitan Opera in New York was built in 1880 for the troupe of the same name. The money for the construction and subsequent financing was given by a private joint-stock company, although wealthy art connoisseurs have made their contribution (and still do).

The theater operates 7 months, giving performances 6 days a week, with two performances on Saturdays. And the rest of the time, the artists go on tour: they are gladly accepted all over the world.

The troupe also periodically performs for free in the parks of New York, where everyone can “join the high”. Many viewers then become regular visitors to the Meta (slang name).

8. San Carlo in Naples

San Carlo in Naples – the theater, opened in 1737, is the oldest in Europe, and in the 3th century it was also the largest, accommodating 285 people.

Due to a fire in 1816, two upgrades in 1845 and 1854, and reconstruction after the bombings of 1943, the building was greatly reduced and now it has 1 seats.

It is visited not only by opera fans, but also by lovers of antiquity: in 2011, a museum-archive of historical documents was opened here.

7. Odessa National Academic Theater in Ukraine

Odessa National Academic Theater opera and ballet was the first built in this city in Ukraine. It happened in 1810, but already in 1873 it burned down.

The modern theater was built in 1887 by the architects Ferdinand Felner and Hermann Gelmer. The pride of this room is the unique acoustics. It is so thought out that even a whisper can be heard from the stage in the distant corners of the auditorium.

At various times, such cult figures as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergei Rachmaninov, Fyodor Chaliapin, Salome Krushelnitskaya and others performed here.

6. Estates Theater in Prague

The building was built in 1783 and for 15 years it was called the theater of Count Nostitz, as it was commissioned by this noble family.

Most of all, fans of Mozart’s work dream of getting here, for whom this is a kind of sacred place.

Estates Theater in Prague – the only one that has survived to our time without changes, where the great composer performed. In 1787, he personally conducted the premiere production of Don Juan here, and in 1791 he came with the premiere of Titus’ Mercy.

5. Gran Teatro Liceu in Barcelona

Gran Teatro Liceu in Barcelona is an obligatory part of the cultural program when visiting the capital of Spain. Opera connoisseurs want to go there no less than football fans who aspire to the Camp Nou.

It was opened in 1847 at the expense of private individuals (which is a rarity), and already in 1861 there was a fire that severely damaged the building.

In 1893, another emergency occurred: the terrorist Santiago Salvador planted a bomb inside, which not only damaged the theater, but also killed 20 people.

4. Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Russia

Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Russia – This is the largest and best equipped theater building in our country, consisting of 6 complexes. It was built in 1945, and in 2005 they made a large-scale reconstruction.

Interesting fact: In 2015, Metropolitan Tikhon of Novosibirsk and Berdsk filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office on the fact of insulting the feelings of believers. He and some parishioners claimed that Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser, directed by Timofey Kulyabin, treated religious symbols blasphemously.

Many eminent cultural figures spoke out in defense of the theater, but the matter still went to court. The production was not closed, although the corpse had to remove the image of Christ from it.

Most considered this event an attempt to introduce censorship in the theater, which has long been feared and expected. While cinema, television and print media are being pressured for information, the theater is not being touched for now, but that could change.

3. Sydney Opera House

Знаменитый Sydney Opera House was formally opened in 1973, and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Now it is the main symbol of the city and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

Its unique architecture and colossal scale have made it a favorite destination for visitors to Sydney. The theater covers an area of ​​more than 2 hectares, has a length of 185 meters and a width of up to 125.

The electricity it consumes would be enough for a city of 25 inhabitants, and the signature sailing roof is covered with over 000 million azulejos (Portuguese tiles).

2. Grand Opera in Paris

Grand Opera in Paris or the Parisian Opera Garnier – the benchmark of the Beaux-Aze style in architecture and one of the most beautiful famous theaters in the world.

The entire building, including the Actors Foyer and Library, is open to the public in the morning and crowds of tourists can be seen there regularly.

Right in the theater there is a shop that presents a wide range of books, CDs, souvenirs and other products on the theme of ballet and theater.

1. La Scala in Milan

If you can say about all the other opera houses on our list “one of the most famous”, then La Scala in Milan – the most famous. This is a real center of the world opera, on the stage of which only the best perform.

It was opened in 1788 on the site of an old church of the same name. It, by the way, is given in honor of Beatrice Della Scala, a representative of the rulers of Verona.

World War II did not spare the theater: it was destroyed by bombing and rebuilt in 1946. Since then, it has been restored several times, the last renovation was completed in 2004.

Interesting fact: During the preparation of the site for the construction of the Italian theater (in the XNUMXth century), workers dug up a marble slab, on which the mime Pilate, popular in Ancient Rome, was depicted. The architect Giuseppe Piermarini considered this a good sign and turned out to be right: the fame of the theater quickly spread throughout the world.