The largest opera house. Vienna Opera, Austria

Lovers of art and ballet often wonder what opera houses known to the world? How are they different from each other and what is the history of their construction? Every country has a theater, but not everyone is recognized as the best among others.

List of opera houses in the world

Art has been valued by people since ancient times. Opera and ballet are something incredibly beautiful, carrying grace and chic. Among the most popular in the world art connoisseurs highlight the following:

• Estates Theater in Prague;
• La Scala in Milan;
• "San Carlo" in Naples;
• Odessa Theater in Ukraine;
• "Grand Opera" in Paris;
• in Vienna;
• Covent Garden in London;
• Gran Teatro Liceu in Barcelona;
• Metropolitan Opera in New York;
• Sydney Opera House;
• Novosibirsk in Russia.

Every country has a place where you can plunge into the world of art. or operettas - this is a special room that is imbued with the spirit of talented people.

La Scala in Milan

Tetra was discovered in 1778. Art lovers consider it the most beautiful and graceful. This unusual name it received because it was built on the site of an old church.

During World War II, the structure was completely destroyed, but was later restored.

The theater is notable for the fact that it seats more than two thousand spectators, and the depth of the stage is 30 meters. What’s interesting is that the scenery changes with the help of complex system with manual mechanisms.

Tickets to La Scala can cost up to $2,000. There is a dress code upon entry which includes black evening wear.

"San Carlo" in Naples

This theater is the largest in Europe. Its opening took place in 1737. The hall is designed for more than 3 thousand spectators.

Its history is remembered for the fact that it was rebuilt after a fire in 1817, after which it became even more luxurious. The chic decoration and interior make it one of the best opera houses in the world.

Visitors to the San Carlo in Naples say that the interior design leaves a lasting impression. The theater hosts the most famous productions.

Covent Garden in London

Being one of the best opera houses in the world, it is, according to visitors, one of the most vibrant and unusual. Covent Garden was founded in 1946. It is a royal theater, so only the best actors play in it.

Art lovers come to London to see opera or ballet on a beautiful stage. Tickets to the theater cost no more than £200, and most performances are in English.

Grand Opera in Paris

The world's famous opera houses are distinguished from others by their grace, decoration and incredible beauty. This is exactly what the Grand Opera in Paris is like.

Its opening took place in 1669. The hall seats 1900 spectators. The theater is considered the most beautiful. It is distinguished by unusual facades, complemented by arches, sculptures and frescoes.

There have been performances in the history of the theater. According to statistics, this is the most visited stage in the whole world. The theater is the center cultural life France.

Odessa Theater in Ukraine

It was first built in 1810, and then completely burned down. The restoration took place only 11 years after the fire, when the architects decided to create an unusual building with a domed roof. The history of opera houses around the world is varied and amazing. The Odessa Theater is no exception.

Its appearance and decoration give it the right to be called one of the most beautiful and famous opera houses in the world. The main decoration is the painted ceilings and large crystal chandelier.

The atmosphere of the room allows each guest to feel like an aristocrat and plunge magical world. Having visited this place, you want to come back again to completely immerse yourself in the world of art.

Vienna State Opera House

Royal style, rich interior and special charm distinguish the opera in the city of Vienna. The theater is imbued with the life and music of Mozart. The unusually beautiful facade, made in the neo-Renaissance style, will not leave any visitor indifferent.

Despite the fact that its capacity is only 1313 spectators, it remains one of the most famous theaters opera and ballet in the world.

Interestingly, every spring it hosts the Viennese Ball. This is a beautiful and magnificent event, where ladies and gentlemen seem to be transported back to old times.

Gran Teatro Liceu in Barcelona

The building was built in 1847 and accommodates more than 2 thousand visitors. Although a fire destroyed most of the tetra in 1994, it was restored thanks to the original drawings.

Performances in it take place according to classical works, and according to more modern ones. Interestingly, opera lovers come from all over the world to visit this beautiful theater.

The main distinctive feature of the hall is the seats for spectators, which are made of cast iron and upholstered in bright red velvet. The walls are decorated with lamps in the shape of a dragon.

Estates Theater in Prague

It was opened in 1783 and accommodates 1,200 visitors. It is the only theater building in Europe that has survived since its construction.

At the entrance there is a remarkable sculpture “Commander”, created by opera of the same name Mozart. It looks like a black cloak and represents creativity.

Performances in the theater are performed in several languages: Czech, German, Italian. The repertoire is quite diverse and can please every viewer.

Sydney Opera House

Its building is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Built in the expressionist style, it differs from the others in that the roof is made in the shape of a sail.

The opening of the theater was performed by Elizabeth II. The building took more than 14 years to construct, and more than $7 million was spent on it.

Theater productions are considered masterpieces. It is divided into two halls, each of which is designed with special chic and grace. The ceilings of each have been improved to reflect sound and make it more enjoyable for the listener.

Metropolitan Opera in New York

This theater in the USA is the most famous and visited. It does not have luxurious decorations or expensive decorations, but it is equipped with modern technology to make the show even more exciting.

It is believed that singing in this theater is very prestigious, despite the modest fees.

The hall accommodates more than 3.5 thousand people. What is noteworthy is that the theater is not government building and is supported by donations and private individuals. This makes it even more valuable to viewers.

and ballet

The building is the largest in Russia. Its area is more than 40 thousand square meters. The theater is equipped with modern technology and designed with special charm. Due to its size, it was given a second name - “Siberian Colosseum”.

In Russia this is one of the most large-scale buildings theater and art. Its roof is designed like a large dome, which also makes it unique and interesting.

From an engineering point of view, the building is a complex structure. Viewers consider him unique and inimitable.

The most famous opera houses in the world differ from others in that they carry a special charm. Every country has a place where productions and performances take place. Opera and ballet are one of the the most important productions, which convey to the viewer the works famous writers and composers. The scale with which the action takes place on stage allows the viewer to feel the emotions of the actors and singers.

What attracts art lovers to Europe? Numerous modern exhibitions and performances, unique art galleries And art museums, classical concerts and, of course, the best opera houses. Europe still maintains the highest level of opera, so today we offer lovers of elite opera a guide to the most important opera houses of the Old World.

Opera of Europe

What is opera? In short, this is a synthesis classical music, singing and colorful spectacle. In addition, when listening to an opera “live”, the atmosphere of solemnity is important, so to these three components we also add the luxury of the setting.

National Geographic magazine presented the best opera houses in the world, including many European ones. All of them meet the highest possible criteria for the art of opera and, in fact, themselves create opera and the fashion for opera. Many of them have existed for several centuries and for amateurs of this art remain places that must be visited.

La Scala, Milan

• Opened in 1778
• Ticket prices are 35-300 euros
• Capacity 2030 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “Giselle” by Adolphe Adam

"" has long been considered the best opera house in Europe. It was here that the classics first presented their works opera art Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini. Inconspicuous from the outside, this theater reveals its luxury only once you get inside.

The unusual thing about La Scala is that the season begins on December 7 (this is the day of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan) and lasts until November. Attention! A black dress code must be followed when visiting.

"San Carlo", Naples

• Opened in 1737
• Ticket prices are 25-350 euros
• Capacity 3283 spectators
• What to visit this fall: Othello by Giuseppe Verdi

San Carlo is the largest opera house in Europe. In the world, only the New York and Chicago theaters are larger than it. When it was rebuilt after a fire in 1817, the French classic Stendhal said that there was nothing in Europe comparable in luxury to this theater. After another restoration in 2008, the theater did not lose its chic.

Neapolitan opera was super fashionable in the 18th century. At that time, Traetta, Piccinni, Anfossi, Cimarosa ruled the minds. Haydn, Bach, and Gluck came here especially for the premiere of their works.

Covent Garden, London

• Opened in 1732
• Tickets cost 10-200 pounds
• Capacity 2268 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “Norma” by Vincenzo Bellini

Covent Garden is the British royal theater. His first artistic director there was Handel. The building burned down at least 3 times, but it was carefully restored. Now we can see most of the building, built in 1856.

IN early XIX centuries, in addition to opera and ballet, they staged here dramatic works and even played clownery. In 1846, the theater received royal status, which was celebrated with the production of Rossini's Semiramis. Such classics as Malibran, Tamburini, Giulia Grisi performed here. Now the peculiarity of the theater is that most of the productions are not in the original language, but in English.

Grand Opera, Paris

• Opened in 1669
• Ticket prices are 30-350 euros
• Capacity 1900 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “Tosca” by Giacomo Puccini

"" is considered the most beautiful opera house in the world. Here you will be greeted by an eclectic façade with seven arches, sculptures of Drama, Music, Poetry and Dance and an interior with marble staircases, frescoes by Pilz, paintings by Chagall and Baudry.

The great past of the theater is evidenced by the list of composers who performed their works at the opening after the next restoration in 1975: “The Mute of Portici” by Daniel Aubert, “The Huguenots” by Giacomo Meyerbeer, “William Tell” by Gioachino Rossini, “The Brook” by Leo Delibes. To this day, the Grand Opera remains the most visited theater in the world.

Royal Opera, Versailles

• Opened in 1770
• Ticket prices are 20-200 euros
• Capacity 1200 spectators
• What to visit this fall: Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell

The Royal Opera of Versailles is located in a huge luxurious palace and it is the largest palace theater in the world. Architectural feature The theater is that it is built entirely of wood, and all the marble surfaces are just marbled paintings.

The premieres of the greatest opera works, including Gluck’s “Iphigenia in Tauris”. Now this theater is a mandatory part of the cultural program when visiting Paris.

Vienna State Opera House, Vienna

• Opened in 1869
• Ticket prices are 12-240 euros
• Capacity 1313 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi

The Vienna Opera is truly royal in style and scope. At its opening they played Mozart's Don Giovanni. In general, everything here is imbued with the spirit of the great Austrian composer. Even the facade, made in the neo-Renaissance style, is painted with frescoes based on his opera " The Magic Flute" And the most famous leader was the famous composer and conductor Gustav Mahler.

Every year in February the famous Viennese Ball takes place here. And in terms of the number of premieres, this theater is a record holder. Every year up to 60 operas are staged here, and the season lasts 285 days.

Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa

• Opened in 1828
• Ticket prices: 7-180 euros
• Capacity 2000 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “Mary Stuart” by Gaetano Donizetti

Genoese is a symbol of the city, on which no expense or effort has ever been spared. For example, Luigi Canonica, who built La Scala, was invited to build the stage.

The theater is closely associated with the name of Giuseppe Verdi, who spent many seasons in Genoa and presented the premieres of his operas here. And to this day, the repertoire always includes several works by the famous composer.

Gran Teatro Liceu, Barcelona

• Opened in 1847
• Ticket prices are 9-195 euros
• Capacity 2292 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “The Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Mozart

Love opera, visit Spain and drive past “ ” - unforgivable mistake. The theater is famous not only for its classical repertoire, but also modern approach to individual productions.

In 1893, anarchists detonated several bombs in the theater, and in our time (in 1994) a large-scale fire occurred in the building. However, the Barcelona Opera survived and the theater was restored according to the original drawings. Its special feature is the spectator seats made of cast iron with red velvet upholstery. The lamps are made of brass in the shape of a dragon with crystal shades.

Estates Theatre, Prague

• Opened in 1783
• Ticket prices: 7-180 euros
• Capacity 1200 spectators
• What to visit this fall: “Don Giovanni” by Wolfgang Mozart

The only theater in Europe that has been preserved almost in its original form. It was in the “Estate Theater” that Mozart first presented to the world his operas “Don Giovanni” and “The Clemency of Titus”. And to this day, the works of the Austrian classic form the basis of the theater’s repertoire.

Among the virtuosos who performed on this stage are Anton Rubinstein, Gustav Mahler, Niccolo Paganini. In addition to opera, ballet and dramatic performances are given here. And Czech director Milos Forman filmed his film “Amadeus” here, which brought many Oscars.

Bavarian State Opera, Munich

• Opened in 1653
• Ticket prices 11-380 euros
• Capacity 2100 spectators
• What to visit this fall: Die Meistersinger of Nuremberg by Richard Wagner

The Bavarian Opera is one of the oldest opera houses in the world. And our compatriot Kirill Petrenko is now working as its chief conductor. All premieres took place here significant works Wagner - “Tristan and Isolde”, “Das Rheingold”, “Walkyrie”. The name of this classic is closely associated with modern repertoire. Mozart, Strauss, and Orff also loved the theater.

When planning your travels around Europe in the fall, be sure to include a visit to the best opera houses. And in order for your trips to take place without delays in obtaining visas, contact our company. We will help you with as soon as possible apply for a European residence permit or citizenship.

Each opera house is a special, unique work of art. The list of the ten best opera houses in the world immerses you in an atmosphere of grandeur and sublimity.

Ten of the best, according to the book “The National Geographic”:

10. Lincoln Center, New York, USA

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which harmoniously combines everything from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and the New York Ballet, also has a library and two theaters. The center promotes not only classics, but also innovations, something completely new, unfamiliar to the viewer. Operas at the Met are regularly filmed and performed in theaters around the world. Lincoln Center also plays a significant role in the field of education: its rich repertoire contributes to the inspiration and creativity of students and professionals.

9. Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper), Vienna, Austria

Built in 1869, the Staatsoper opened with a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Its reputation as a center musical life Venice has long been established, and the Staatsoper remains one of the world's best opera houses. Although most It was destroyed on March 12, 1945, when the Allies bombed the city towards the end of World War II, the main staircase and some other public areas miraculously surviving. To get an idea of ​​what it looked like before the air raid, you only have to walk through the main entrance into the foyer. The theater you see now was reopened at the end of the Russian occupation of Austria, and the first play staged after many years war, became Ludwig van Beethoven's Fidelio, a hymn to freedom.

8. Royal Opera of Versailles, Versailles, France

The interior of the Royal Opera House, located in the famous luxurious palace of Versailles, is distinguished by exquisite workmanship. The wooden walls were painted to resemble marble (and indeed, it is almost impossible to distinguish from the original). Gold combines harmoniously with pink and green shades of marble, sky blue curtains and upholstery. Breaking traditional italian style(which most theaters correspond to), the Royal Opera House is surrounded by two balconies and the building itself is topped by a vast colonnade, which, thanks to the play of mirrors, seems to stretch to infinity. Enge-Jacques Gabriel built the theater in 1769 in preparation for the marriage of the Dauphin, the future king Louis XVI, and the Austrian Princess Marie Antoinette. After French Revolution the theater was used only occasionally for various events. Today, special gala performances are often held here.

7. Paris Opera, Paris, France

The main façade of the Opera produces strong impression, although it would seem that in Paris, a city where wonderful architectural sculptures are literally on every corner, it is no longer possible to surprise. The magnificently decorated building with its crowning dome was built in 1875. The Grand Theater inside is suitable for both ballet and opera. Some of the largest ceremonial spaces in the world are located here at the Paris Opera, where their grandeur lends importance to events of all kinds. The rich and vibrant interiors reflect the tastes and moods of France's Second Empire. In 1962, Marc Chagall created new frescoes in the center of the Palais Garnier ceiling. The result, no less impressive, is all the more remarkable because it does not contradict the formal character of the interior decor.

6. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

Situated on a piece of land jutting out into Sydney Harbour, the stunning modern Sydney Opera House has beautiful view onto the water, completely strewn with sailboats. Even if going to see a show isn't on your agenda, the Sydney Opera House is worth a visit just to look at the stunning building. The structure was designed by Jörn Utzon to offer a series of overlapping shells and sails. Grand opening took place in 1973. The first performance at the theater was Prokofiev’s “War and Peace.” The interior of each theater is paneled with different types of wood to improve the acoustics of the room and also make it more aesthetically pleasing. All main performance areas have their own foyers.

5. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia

One of the main theaters in Russia, known for one of the best symphony orchestras in the world, - the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow went through “fire, water and copper pipes", or more precisely, fire, war and revolution. Its stunning neoclassical portico, topped by a statue of Apollo in his chariot, is a harbinger of the splendor that will appear before the eyes of visitors once they enter. In 2005, the theater was closed for reconstruction and was reopened only in the fall of 2011. Four balconies and a top gallery surround the orchestra, where seats include Chippendale chairs upholstered in red damask. The ballet troupe of the Moscow theater enjoys worldwide fame. Here, the famous choreographer Yuri Grigorovich staged memorable performances “ Swan Lake", "The Golden Age" and "Romance".

4. Royal Opera House, London, England

The Royal Opera House was built in Covent Garden at the beginning of the 18th century, and did not change its location, however modern building theater - already the third located on this site. The first operas of George Frideric Handel were performed at the Theater Royal, and later many operas and oratorios were written German composer for this place in particular. He performed here regularly from 1735 until the day of his death in 1759.

3. Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Not to be outdone by the wealthy industrialists of the United States, the Argentines, as passionate fans of opera, completed the construction of the Teatro Colon in 1908. It is by no means easy to define the style of this theater: it has a little bit of everything, it took the best from various European theaters. And this is not surprising, because so many architects were involved in the construction. This outstanding recording from the great opera house, containing great performances, is matched only by the group of famous artists who once graced its stage. The theater has its own exquisite costumes and picturesque construction departments.

2. Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Italy

The magnificent red and gold Teatro San Carlo, built by King Charles of Bourbon in 1737, is the oldest in the world, and before the construction of La Scala, it was also the most prestigious in Italy. Some of Gioachino Rossini's most popular operas premiered on the stage of San Carlo.

1. La Scala, Milan, Italy

Milan's Teatro La Scala is perhaps the most famous opera house in the world. It is he who is associated with classical opera. The theater, built in 1778, is associated with the names of such world-famous composers as Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, Giuseppe Verdi and Gaetano Donizetti. One of the highlights of La Scala is the concave channel under the orchestra's wooden floor, which gives the hall such excellent acoustics.

7 chosen

Do you love theater? This is a sacred place that transports viewers in an instant to a completely different world. What is this – magic, fantasy, time travel? Theater is always a living art, both for spectators and for actors, musicians, and dancers. They live a thousand lives, convey a thousand feelings and emotions to the audience, taking them into a completely different reality. Almost every average city in Russia has its own theater. Residents of large cities were lucky enough to have a whole set of, this is, at a minimum, a drama, puppet or theater for young spectators, perhaps an operetta or opera and ballet theater, a philharmonic society or youth theater. Why then travel to other cities and countries if dozens of theaters are waiting for your attention very close by? The fact is that there are such scenes, productions and performers, not to see them at least once is to miss an important part of this life, which is completely unforgivable for any person, and for a real theatergoer it is a mortal sin! Theater is not only a stage and actors, theater is part of the history and culture of any country, of all humanity. The whole world speaks different languages, and only one language is understandable to everyone - the language of art, the language of theater. Let's try to create a travel map of the most famous theaters in the world.

Bolshoi Theatre, Russia, Moscow.

The Bolshoi Theater has long become a symbol not only Russian capital, but throughout our country. The history of the theater began under Catherine the Great, and this is not surprising - the empress was, as they would say now, an avid theatergoer and even wrote plays herself. First, the theater building on Petrovka was rebuilt, which completely burned down in 1805, and the theater was moved to Arbat Square. Alas, it suffered the same fate - the theater died in a fire Patriotic War 1812. In January 1825, a new theater building was rebuilt in its current location, but... in 1853, a fire again destroyed the building, leaving only the outer walls and colonnades. After a long restoration, the Bolshoi Theater reopened only at the end of the 19th century. The theater includes ballet and opera troupe, Orchestra Bolshoi Theater and a brass band. Since its creation, the theater troupe has grown from several dozen actors and musicians to a creative team of thousands.

Recently, the latest reconstruction and restoration of the Bolshoi Theater building was completed, which caused a lot of controversy. Thanks to the reconstruction, the entire area of ​​the theater was doubled, a new underground stage appeared, and orchestra pit can now accommodate up to 130 musicians. The historical appearance of the theatre, its auditorium and enfilades, as well as the legendary acoustics of the Bolshoi, have been largely restored. Premises restored Main lobby, White foyer, Choir, Exhibition, Round and Beethoven halls, The symbol of the Bolshoi Theater, the quadriga of Apollo, created by sculptor Pyotr Klodt, has been updated. The original beauty has returned to the auditorium, and now every viewer of the Bolshoi Theater can be transported to the time of the performance, as if on a time machine to the 19th century, finding themselves in the fabulous Palace of Art.

Mikhail Shchepkin and Pavel Mochalov, Irina Arkhipova, Yuri Grigorovich, Elena Obraztsova, Ivan Kozlovsky, Evgeny Nesterenko, Maya Plisetskaya, Evgeny Svetlanov, Marina Semyonova, Galina Ulanova - names forever associated with the history of the Bolshoi Theater.

Paris Grand Opera, France, Paris.

The famous Grand Opera owes its birth to Napoleon III, who ordered the Parisian authorities to build a theater worthy of the capital of France. However, the construction of the Palace of Art dragged on for 15 years and managed to survive both the war and the revolution. Today, the Paris Grand Opera (or Opera Garnier) is considered the most visited theater in the world, each performance of which is always sold out. The Grand Opera opened for the first time on January 15, 1875. The multi-colored marble entrance hall of the main staircase leading to the theater foyers and floors theater hall, has been meeting select audiences for more than a century. The splendor of the Grand Foyer delights and fascinates with its splendor, the play of mirrors and light. The action of the play begins long before it begins on stage - there are plots everywhere musical history. The theater’s huge stage, 174 meters long and 125 meters wide, is illuminated by an 8-ton crystal chandelier. The auditorium curves like a red and gold horseshoe and seats 1,900 spectators. Another minute and the magnificent curtain, decorated with gold braid and tassels, rustling quietly, will open and...

Each theater has its own secret, legend, history or secret. In the basements of the Palais Garnier a message to the future was kept, priceless treasures of world culture, sealed in sealed urns back in 1907 and supplemented in 1912: 24 discs with recordings greatest singers the beginning of the 20th century by Enrico Caruso, Emma Calvet, Nellie Melba, Adeline Patti and Francesco Tamagno. 100 years later, the urns were opened, and a collection of surviving recordings was released on CDs.

Vienna Opera, Vienna, Austria.

It is impossible to even imagine Vienna, this musical capital, the queen of the waltz, without an opera house. The building of the Vienna Opera was founded in 1863, and already in 1869, on May 25, the first premiere took place - Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. Destroyed during the bombing in March 1945, the State Vienna Opera could have completely ceased to exist, because most of the building, the scenery, and costumes for more than 100 opera productions were destroyed in the fire. Despite numerous disputes about whether it should be restored to its original form, after 10 years the theater was completely restored to its historical appearance, and wonderful music sounded within its walls again. It’s not just the manuscripts that don’t burn, the music doesn’t burn either!

The refined and graceful rear of the Vienna Opera House appears to be a magical palace when in the evening rays of light fall on the sculptures of muses on its facade, like the rays of a magic footlight, illuminating fragments of the opera "The Magic Flute".

It was at the Vienna Opera that many operas by Gluck, Mozart, and Beethoven were first performed; names are forever associated with it outstanding musicians and performers - Mahler, G. von Karajan, G. Mahler, R. Strauss...

Once a year State Opera Vienna turns into a ballroom. To the enchanting sounds of the waltz, couples glide along the shiny parquet floor, twirling in the whirlwind of the Vienna Opera Ball.

La Scala, Italy, Milan.

On the site of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala in 1776, by order of the Empress of Austria Maria Theresa, construction of a theater building began. Just two years later, on August 3, 1778, the first premiere of the opera “Recognized Europe” by Antonio Salieri took place within the walls of the future world celebrity. Thus began the brilliant journey of the La Scala Theatre, on whose stage spring, summer, autumn and carnival opera seasons took place, interrupted by dramatic productions. The theater's repertoire includes a palette best works Italian composers, world classics and modern authors - Wagner, Debussy, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev...

Within the walls of La Scala only the best voices of the world sounded, to whom the theater gave great honor and who wrote great pages in the history of the theater with their high art- Enrique Caruso, Mario Del Monaco, Titta Ruffo, Maria Callas, Tebaldi, Chaliapin, Sobinov.

During the Second World War, La Scala Theater was completely destroyed, but already in 1946 it was waiting for its audience in its original appearance. The theater stage is one of the largest in Italy (its depth is 30 meters), and the auditorium seats about 2 thousand. The building of the La Scala Theater was recently completely restored again.

Metropolitan Opera, USA, New York.

A little over 130 years is not yet old for the theater, but the Metropolitan Opera, despite its historical youth, can compete with such famous theaters as La Scala and the Vienna Opera. This can be judged by the architecture of the theater building, and by the repertoire performed on its stage and a worthy list of performers. At first, only thematic seasons took place on the theater stage, but since the beginning of the 20th century, the theater stage shone with its own productions in scope and entertainment, surpassing famous theaters Italy, France, Austria. Since 1966, the Metropolitan Opera has been located in downtown Lincoln on the Upper West Side. On its stage today the voices of Placido Domingo and Anna Netrebko, Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Renee Fleming are heard. New opera, new voices, new story.

Covent Garden, UK, London.

The name of the great theater, born after the greatest discord in the famous theater, has been thundering all over the world for several centuries. royal theater Drewry Lane in 1714, and taking its current name in 1732.

Covent Garden – main theater Great Britain, whose glory not only does not fade over the years, but is only decorated with new star productions, new names famous actors, musicians, performers. The theater stage heard the greatest voices of the world - Boris Chaliapin in the production of "Boris Godunov", Maria Callas in "Norma", Galina Vishnevskaya, who performed the role of Aida. The opera Oberon was written by Weber specifically for production at Covent Garden. Great performances ballet troupe"Sadler's Wells Ball" lit another star in the magnificent crown of the main theater in Great Britain.

Sydney Opera House, Australia, Sydney.

The Sydney Opera House can be called one of the wonders of the theater world, because it can host 5 performances at the same time! An architectural marvel and a landmark of Australia, one of the top ten creations modern architecture, included in the UNESCO heritage list. The author of the project was the Danish architect Jorn Utzon. It took more than 14 years (instead of the planned 4) and more than 100 million Australian dollars (with an initial budget of 7 million) to build this architectural miracle. The Sydney Theater Complex was opened in October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II of England. The Sydney Opera House is: an opera hall for 1.5 thousand spectators and concert hall for more than 2.5 thousand, hall drama theater for 500 people, drama and comedy theaters, theater studio and several more halls, one of which is under open air. A real theater-Palace and a miracle of the entire theatrical world.

Palace of Catalan Music, Spain, Barcelona.

In the center of Barcelona at the beginning of the last century, according to the design of the architect Luis Domenech, one of the most famous concert halls in the world was created - Palau de la Musica Catalana, which has become one of the symbols of beautiful Catalonia and the most prominent representative modernism in architecture. Maybe this is not theater in the pure sense, but it is simply impossible not to say at least a few words about it. The main feature of the Palace of Music is the amazingly beautiful stained glass windows and sculptural composition"Catalan folk song", created by Miguel Blay. The stained glass dome crowning the concert hall creates a charming illumination of the stage and the entire hall, giving an incomparable uniqueness to its beauty. The hall is especially beautiful in the twilight hours, when light and shadow breathe life into the statues and bas-reliefs...

As William Shakespeare wrote: “All the world is a stage.” But we will still find out which theaters in the world are considered the most beautiful and important for history, on which stages the greats dream of performing opera singers and theater stars, where there are always no empty seats and tickets must be booked at least six months in advance.

Sydney Opera House, Australia

The Sydney Opera House boasts the distinction of being one of the five most recognizable buildings in the world. The theater, as conceived by the architect, is a sculptural image of a ship with raised sails. It is one of the ten outstanding buildings of modern architecture and is business card Sydney. In the harbor where the theater was built, there was previously a tram depot, and even earlier, an ancient fort.

The Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. Her Majesty visited the theater five times.

In 2007 it was recognized as a UNESCO site, and in the same year it was among the twenty finalists of the “Seven New Wonders of the World” project. The theater's repertoire includes an opera dedicated to himself, called “The Eighth Miracle.” The theater is open 363 days a year, except Catholic Christmas and Good Friday.

Paris Opera, France

Paris Opera, also known as the Grand Opera and , is one of the most famous and significant theaters peace. It was built in mid-19th century on the orders of Napoleon III, who disdained going to performances in the old building.

It was the Paris Opera that inspired French writer Gaston Leroux to write one of his most famous novels, The Phantom of the Opera. Moreover, the theater does have an “underground lake”, which is mentioned in the book. A water tank is stored in the basement of the building, which serves to stabilize the foundation.

The theater can be visited daily as part of an excursion, except three holidays- Catholic Christmas, New Year and Workers' Day on May 1st.

Metropolitan Opera, New York, USA

The Metropolitan Opera, known as the Met for short, was founded in 1880, but the theater did not move into its current building, Lincoln Center, until 1966. The building also houses sculptures by Lehmbruck and Maillol, frescoes by Chagall, as well as portraits of prominent artists.

On the theater stage in different times Maria Callas, Leonard Warren, Fyodor Chaliapin, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko and Renee Fleming performed.

The theater operates from September to April, and goes on tour from May to June. In July, he organizes free performances in New York parks, which are traditionally very popular.

La Scala, Milan, Italy

It was opened in 1778 on the site of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, hence the name of the theater itself. The building existed in its original form until World War II, when the theater was completely destroyed.

It is noteworthy that during excavations of the site for the construction of the theater, an ancient marble block was found with the image of the famous Roman mime Pylades.

La Scala was restored and subsequently restored more than once. At the same time, more than 60 million euros were spent on the latest restoration, which lasted three years. The first musical work performed on the renovated stage on December 7, 2004 was Salieri’s opera “Europe Recognized.”

Lake stage of the Bregenz Festival, Austria

The Bregenz Festival stage is built on Lake Constance on 200 stilts, with seating for more than 6,000 spectators on the shore. The scenery for performances on this stage is the most extraordinary and waterproof in the world.

Every two years the floating stage is completely rebuilt. Since 1946, the famous Bregenz Opera Festival has been held on the site in July-August. The festival includes theatrical performances of various musical genres.

Vienna Opera, Austria

The largest theater in Austria, the Vienna Opera, opened in May 1869 with the premiere performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni. The design of the building's facade contains fragments of the opera "The Magic Flute".

Today the repertoire consists mainly of works performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The opera is rightfully considered the custodian of the best traditions of the Viennese classical school.

In winter, the famous Vienna Ball takes place in the building of the Vienna State Opera. Tradition annual balls During the theater's existence, it was interrupted only for 10 years - after the theater building was destroyed during the bombing in 1945.

Esplanade Theatre, Singapore

The Esplanade Theater has become one of Singapore's most ambitious projects. Inside there is a concert hall with 1600 seats, a theater with 2000 seats, several restaurants, shopping mall and another open-air theater. Two architectural bureaus worked on the project simultaneously.

The architects’ imagination was so rich that the initial project was popularly nicknamed “copulating anteaters.” Amendments were made to the final design, after which the residents of Singapore renamed the building “Durian” ‒ exotic fruit, which the domes of the complex resemble. However, according to the architects, the domes are shaped like shells.

The Esplanade is open all year round. Performances are given here, as well as various annual festivals. However, some performances are free for everyone.

Arena di Verona, Italy

The Arena di Verona, which was built around 30 AD, can rightfully lay claim to being the oldest in the world. operating theater. In addition, the amphitheater is truly huge - it can simultaneously accommodate up to 16,000 spectators, which no classical theater is capable of. The amphitheater is the third largest and is listed World Heritage UNESCO.

The arena was at various times a venue for gladiator fights, naval battles, circus performances, tournaments, bullfights and burning of heretics. After the earthquake of 1117, which almost completely destroyed the outer ring of the amphitheater, it was used as a source of stone for other buildings. It is now open from June to August, when the best opera performers come to Verona. In addition, the theater can be visited as part of excursions - from Tuesday to Sunday.

They say that it is in Verona that you can see best productions immortal work Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", the events of which developed in this city.

Globe Theatre, London, UK

The original Globe Theater was founded in 1599 with funds from the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a troupe of actors to which Shakespeare belonged. However, the building of this theater did not last long - it burned down in a fire in 1613. Throughout its history, the building was rebuilt three times. In 1997, the theater was restored under the name "". Moreover, the new building was built just 200 meters from the original location.

The Globe building was recreated as close as possible to the original. This was facilitated by the excavations of the original theater, which influenced the final plans for the construction site.

Since the new building, in accordance with historical realities, was built without a roof, performances are held in it only from May to October. However, tours of London's oldest theater are available all year round. Next to the Globe there is a theme park museum dedicated to Shakespeare. Here you can personally participate in the production of one of the classic plays.

Albert Hall, London, UK

London's Royal Albert Hall, or Albert Hall, is Britain's most prestigious concert hall. It was built in memory of Prince Albert by order of his widow, Queen Victoria.

In different years they performed The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd ABBA Depeche Mode. The climactic scene of Albert Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much was filmed here. First Russian musician who performed at the Albert Hall in 2007 was Boris Grebenshchikov and his group “Aquarium”.

Today, the hall is still used for concerts and other events. The Albert Hall can also be visited as part of a tourist excursion.

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