Rating of opera houses. Colon Opera House, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

Opera of Europe

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

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

La Scala, Milan

• Opened in 1778
• Ticket price 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 of opera by Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini first presented their works. Inconspicuous from the outside, this theater reveals its luxury only after you get inside.

The peculiarity of La Scala is that the season begins on December 7 (this is the day of St. Ambrose, patron of Milan) and lasts until November. Attention! A black dress code is required when visiting.

San Carlo, Naples

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

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

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

Covent Garden, London

• Opened in 1732
• Ticket price 10-200 pounds
• Capacity 2268 spectators
• What to visit this fall: "Norma" by Vincenzo Bellini

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

IN early XIX centuries here, in addition to opera and ballet, staged dramatic works and even played clowning. In 1846, the theater received the status of a royal theater, which was marked by the production of Rossini's Semiramide. 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 price 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, Pils frescoes, paintings by Chagall and Baudry.

The list of composers who performed their works at the opening after another restoration in 1975 speaks of the great past of the theater: Daniel Aubert's The Dumb from Portici, Giacomo Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, Gioachino Rossini's William Tell, Leo Delibes' The Stream. Until now, the Grand Opera remains the most visited theater in the world.

Royal Opera, Versailles

• Opened in 1770
• Ticket price 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 operatic works, among which Gluck's Iphigenia in Tauris. Now this theater is an obligatory part of the cultural program when visiting Paris.

Vienna State Opera House, Vienna

• Opened in 1869
• Ticket price 12-240 euros
• Capacity 1313 spectators
• What to visit this fall: "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi

The Vienna Opera is a truly royal style and scale. Mozart's Don Giovanni was played at its opening. In general, everything here is imbued with the spirit of the great Austrian composer. Even the Neo-Renaissance façade is frescoed after his opera magical 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 the world record holder. Up to 60 operas are staged here every year, and the season lasts 285 days.

Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa

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

Genoese is a symbol of the city, which never spared money and effort. 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, presented the premieres of his operas here. And until now, there are always several works by the famous composer in the repertoire.

Gran Teatro Liceu, Barcelona

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

To love opera, to visit Spain and drive past "" - unforgivable mistake. The theater is known not only for its classical repertoire, but also for modern approach to individual performances.

In 1893, anarchists blew up several bombs in the theater, and in our time (in 1994) a large-scale fire broke out in the building. Nevertheless, the Barcelona Opera survived, the theater was restored according to the original drawings. Its special feature is cast iron seating 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 price 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 Estates Theater that Mozart first presented to the world his operas Don Giovanni and The Mercy of Titus. Until now, the works of the Austrian classic form the basis of the theatre'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 the Czech director Milos Forman filmed his film Amadeus here, which brought many Oscars.

Bavarian State Opera, Munich

• Opened in 1653
• Ticket price 11-380 euros
• Capacity 2100 spectators
• What to visit this fall: The Nuremberg Die Meistersingers 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 were held here significant works Wagner - "Tristan and Isolde", "Gold of the Rhine", "Valkyrie". Closely associated with the name of this classic is contemporary repertoire. Mozart, Strauss, Orff also loved the theater.

When planning your trip to Europe in the fall, be sure to include visits to the best opera houses in it. And in order for your trips to pass without delay with the issuance of visas, please contact our company. We will help you in as soon as possible apply for a European residence permit or citizenship.

As William Shakespeare wrote: "The whole world is a theater." 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 fame of 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 included in the top ten outstanding buildings modern architecture and is calling card Sydney. In the harbor where the theater was built, before that there was a tram depot, and even earlier - an old fort.

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

In 2007, it was recognized as a UNESCO site, 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 itself, 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-nineteenth century by order of Napoleon III, who disdained to go 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. At the same time, the theater does have an “underground lake”, which is mentioned in the book. In the basement of the building, a water tank is stored, which serves to stabilize the foundation.

The theater can be visited daily as part of the tour, except for three public holidays- Catholic Christmas, New Year and holiday of workers on May 1.

Metropolitan Opera, New York, USA

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

On the theater stage in different time Maria Callas, Leonard Warren, Fyodor Chaliapin, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko and Rene Fleming performed.

The theater is open from September to April, and goes on tour from May to June. In July, he arranges free performances in the parks of New York, 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, from where the name of the theater itself came from. In its original form, the building existed until the Second World War, when the theater was completely destroyed.

It is noteworthy that during the excavation of the site for the construction of the theater, an old marble block was found with the image of the famous ancient 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 last restoration lasting three years. First piece of music, performed on the renovated stage on December 7, 2004, was Salieri's opera Recognized Europe.

Lake stage of the Bregenz Festival, Austria

The stage of the Bregenz Festival was built on Lake Constance on 200 piles, and there are seats for more than 6,000 spectators on the shore. The scenery for performances on this stage is the most outstanding and waterproof in the world.

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

Vienna Opera, Austria

The largest theater in Austria, the Vienna Opera, opened in May 1869 with the premiere performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni. In the design of the facade of the building there are 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 best traditions Viennese classical school.

In winter, the famous Viennese Ball takes place in the building of the Vienna Opera. The tradition of annual balls during the existence of the theater 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 are located concert hall for 1600 seats, a theater for 2000 seats, several restaurants, shopping mall and another theater open sky. Two architectural bureaus worked on the project at the same time.

The imagination of the architects was so rich that the original project was popularly awarded the nickname "copulating anteaters". Amendments were made to the final project, after which the people of Singapore renamed the building "durian" - exotic fruit, which the domes of the complex look like. However, as conceived by the architects, the domes are shaped like shells.

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

Arena di Verona, which was built around 30 AD, can rightfully claim to be 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 one is capable of. classical theater. The amphitheater is the third largest and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The arena at various times was a platform for gladiator fights, naval battles, circus performances, tournaments, bullfights and the 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. Now it is 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 the 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 by 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. The building has been rebuilt three times in its history. In 1997, the theater was restored under the name "". At the same time, the new building was built just 200 meters from the original location.

The Globe building was recreated as close to the original as possible. This was facilitated by the excavations of the original theater, which also 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 only from May to October. However, there are guided tours of London's oldest theater throughout the year. A theme park-museum dedicated to Shakespeare has been opened next to the Globe. Here you can personally participate in the production of one of the plays of the classic.

Albert Hall, London, UK

London's Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, 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 in different years spoke 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 Aquarium group.

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

Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com

The best and largest opera houses in the world amaze with their splendor and beauty. Famous American photographer and traveler David Leventi has been photographing these architectural masterpieces for five years. He called his project “Portraits of theatres”.

Let us also enjoy his amazing photographs, which convey all the grandeur and beauty of the luxurious interior decoration of the theater halls.

The interiors of the theaters are dominated by stucco, gilding, velvet seats, exquisite boxes and huge candelabra chandeliers.

Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia

Grand Theatre is one of the largest Russian and world opera and ballet theatres. The complex of buildings is located in the center of Moscow on Theater Square.

At first it was a state theater, which, together with Maly, formed a single Moscow troupe of imperial theaters. From time to time, his status changed: he was subordinate to the Moscow governor-general, then to the St. Petersburg directorate. This continued until the revolution of 1917 - after the nationalization there was a complete separation of the Maly and Bolshoi theaters.

Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia

Famous Russian theater Petersburg Opera and Ballet, there is also a branch in Vladivostok. It was founded in 1783 by Empress Catherine the Great. Belonged to Imperial theaters Russia.

The corresponding Decree stated that the theater serves "for the management of spectacles and music."

Opera Garnier, Paris, France

The Paris Opera Garnier is one of the most famous opera and ballet theaters in the world.

It is located in the Palais Garnier in one of the districts of the city, near the metro station of the same name. The building is an example of eclectic architecture in the Beaux-Arts style.

At one time, the theater was simply called the Paris Opera.

Monte Carlo Opera, Monte Carlo, Monaco

The opera house in Monaco was built by the architect Charles Garnier in the 1870s, commissioned by Prince Charles III. Favorable geographical location (coast mediterranean sea), as well as holding railway became the priority factors that influenced the decision to build the theater.

The theater hall is designed for 524 seats. It can be enjoyed instrumental music, opera, ballet, and earlier artistic reading performed by actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Teatro La Fenice, Venice, Italy

This Venetian opera house opened in May 1792 with the premiere of Paisiello's Agrigentine Games.

The name of the opera comes from the following circumstance - the theater was reborn twice like a phoenix from the ashes. The first time after the fire of 1774 and the second time after the courts. The theater burned down in 1837 and 1996, but it was restored every time, the last restoration lasted 8 years.

During the First World War, the opera was closed.

La Scala, Milan, Italy

The famous Milanese opera house La Scala was founded in 1778. The building was designed by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini in 1776-1778. on the site of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala - hence the name.

San Carlo Opera House, Naples, Italy

Opera theatre San Carlo is one of the oldest European opera houses. It was built by order of Charles III on the site of the old building of the San Bartolomeo Opera. The opening took place in November 1737 with a performance of the opera Achilles on Skyros by the Neapolitan composer Domenico Sarro.

In 1816, a fire broke out in the theater. The restoration of the building was carried out by the architect Antonio Niccolini.

The building was restored in 1845 and 1854, as well as after the bombings of 1943. The theater has 1386 seats.

Municipal Theatre, Piacenza, Italy

One of the local masterpieces of Italy - the building Municipal Theater in Piacenza. Since its opening, the opera has presented to the audience almost all the classical main works of the world opera repertoire.

Romanian Ateneum, Bucharest, Romania

The building of the Romanian Opera was built in the center of Bucharest according to the project famous architect from France - Albert Galleron. The main building work was completed in 1888.
On the ground floor of the building there is a beautiful conference room with beautiful decorations. Above it is an auditorium with 650 seats. The hall is decorated with a fresco 75 m high. historical subjects. The Romanian Ateneum is the main concert hall in Bucharest.

Drottningholm Opera House, Stockholm, Sweden

The theater was built in 1766 according to the design of Karl Adelcrantz. The main colors of the building are light yellow, there are no columns or balconies. The opera house reminds administrative building. Such external simplicity is more than offset by the internal content of the theater.

Colon Opera House, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Famous Argentine Opera House. In the mid-1850s, opera in this country was at the peak of its popularity and prosperity. In April 1857, the Grand opening theater production of Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Traviata". The building can accommodate about 2,500 spectators.

Metropolitan Opera, New York, USA

This American opera company was founded in 1880 as an alternative to the Academy of Music. The Metropolitan Opera is one of the most famous and prestigious opera houses in the world.

Oslo Opera House, Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian National Opera House is located on the banks of the Oslo Fjord (Bjorvik Peninsula). He is government agency run by the Norwegian government. The Oslo Opera House is one of the largest public buildings in the country.

Four Seasons Center Opera House, Toronto, Canada

The Toronto Opera House is the main stage of the Canadian Opera and the National Ballet of Canada. The opening of the opera took place in 2006.

Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London, UK

Opera and ballet performances can be enjoyed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

This theater building is the third one that was built on this site. The theater was built in 1858 and renovated in the 1990s. The hall is designed for 2268 spectators.

Royal Opera House, Stockholm, Sweden

This Swedish opera house was built in 1782. Today the theater repertoire consists of opera performances and ballets.

The theater also has its own symphony orchestra.

Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Germany

The German Opera House was built in 1653. Together with the Bavarian State Ballet, the Bavarian Opera gives 350 opera and ballet performances a year.

Hungarian State Opera House, Budapest, Hungary

The largest theater in Hungary was founded in 1884, at that time the opera troupe separated from National Theater. The first director of the theater was the composer and conductor Ferenc Erkel, the author of the Hungarian anthem.

Communal Opera House, Bologna, Italy

The communal opera house of Bologna was built on the site of the Bentivoglio Palace, the last signor of Bologna.

Palace of Catalan Music, Barcelona, ​​Spain

Castle Catalan music It was built by the architect Luis Domènech y Montaner in the Catalan Art Nouveau style. The theater was opened in 1908. In 1997, the Palace of Catalan Music was included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

Viewers can watch here musical performances, listen to concerts of the symphony and chamber music, jazz and Catalan song.

Opera houses occupy a special place among all architectural structures. According to the established tradition, during the construction of opera houses, architects tried not only to create the necessary acoustics, but also to decorate the building in an appropriate way. Rich stucco on the facade, antique statues and the columns are as beautiful as the corridors of the theatre, the stage and the boxes. The world's best opera houses are not only cultural attractions, but also amazing examples of architecture. Here are 10 of the best.

The Bolshoi Theater began its history in 1776, and in 1780 it moved into its first building, which stood for 25 years. modern building with columns and a bronze quadriga by Peter Klodt was solemnly opened at the beginning of 1825. The first performance is "The Triumph of the Muses". Since then, the theater has undergone several major renovations. In 2005, the theater was closed for renovation and reopened only 6.5 years later. Today it is one of major theaters Russia and one of the most significant in the world!

The wonderful neo-Renaissance palace is one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. It was created by the Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl, and the building is considered the crowning achievement of his work. There are statues of Franz Liszt and Franz Erkel in front of the theater, and the building itself is richly decorated inside and out with ornaments, paintings and sculptural elements.

IN theater world its name is simply "Met" (The Met), despite the fact that it is considered almost the most prestigious and influential opera house in the world. At different times, the world's best performers shone on its stage, including Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas and even Fedor Chaliapin. The theater began with a small troupe that met in 1880. The old building no longer exists, and the new one appeared in 1966. It is famous for its wonderful acoustics and a stunning huge curtain, hand-embroidered with sequins and real silk. Broadcasts from this theater are conducted in online mode through the Internet.

It was opened in 1908, and the first opera on new stage was Verdi's Aida. There are almost 2.5 thousand seats and a thousand standing places. Before the advent of the Sydney Opera House, it was the most spacious, and Maestro Pavarotti himself appreciated the perfect acoustics of the hall. The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times. The last major renovation was completed in 2010.

The oldest opera house in Europe was opened in 1737. The theater was managed by Gioacchino Rossini and Gaetano Donizetti in different years. The building burned down, was bombed during the war and survived several large-scale reconstructions. It was on this stage that the young Caruso performed, ridiculed by the public and vowing to never again go on stage in Naples. Many famous Italian opera singers started their careers here, and this stage has also seen many premieres.

This opera house was opened in 1869 with a production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. The neo-Renaissance opera house was designed by August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll. During the bombing of Vienna in World War II, the theater was badly damaged and in decline. Only in 1955 the building was restored and at the same time the tradition of holding annual balls. Interestingly, the metal band Angizia is quite popular in Austria, all members of which are active artists of the Vienna State Opera.

It is difficult to imagine an opera house in the heart of the tropical jungle, especially if it is modeled after the best European theaters- with stucco Italian marble velvet upholstered furniture. This is what the Amazonas theater looks like. It was opened in 1896 and struck contemporaries with an unprecedented scope. Only the dome of the building from the outside is covered with ceramic tiles to match the color national flag, for which it took 36 thousand tiles. Here Anna Pavlova danced and Enrico Caruso sang. During the period when Manaus lost its huge income from rubber production, the city was in decline and the theater was closed. Only 90 years later, in 1990, the doors of the theater opened again.

The ancient Greeks, playing mysteries in honor of the god Dionysus, did not suspect that they were becoming the founders of a new art. The names of Euripides, Sophocles and Aristophanes - fathers ancient Greek theater- known to everyone educated person today, and some of their plays do not leave the stage even in the digital age. Speaking of theater stage, it should be noted that the amphitheaters that appeared in the era of antiquity were thoroughly “forgotten” in the Middle Ages, when theatrical performances were held in churches or right on the market squares.

TO XVI century the situation in Europe is changing: the first theaters are built to entertain the public. Today, there are "temples of Melpomene" in any country, and some of them have acquired a well-deserved world fame.

Covent Garden, London. Covent Garden is a district of the British capital, which gave its name to the theater built here. Its opening took place in December 1732, and almost immediately the theater became one of the best in London. Two years later, in addition to dramatic performances, Covent Garden staged a ballet and an opera by George Handel, who at that time held the position music director theater. Covent Garden burned twice, in 1808 and 1856, the current theater building, built in 1858, was completely renovated in the 1990s. Many famous opera singers have performed and perform on its stage, and Covent Garden itself is known for the fact that, unlike many other theaters, here you can listen to operas in the original language.

La Scala, Milan. The fact that the list of the most famous theaters in the world includes the Italian La Scala should not be surprising. Theaters on the Apennine Peninsula existed in the days of the Roman Empire, and modern opera art originates in Renaissance Italy. Theater La Scala opened in 1778 with a production of the opera Recognized Europe. Its author was Antonio Salieri - famous hero Pushkin's poem and at one time quite popular composer. Since then, the La Scala Theater has hosted the premieres of many operas. Italian composers with a worldwide reputation, such as Puccini, Bellini, Verdi and Rossini. In 2004, after a three-year reconstruction, the theatrical season on the renovated stage opened, as many years ago, with Salieri's opera Recognized Europe. By the way, it is the La Scala theater that bears the title of the most famous theater in the world according to the Samogo.Net portal.

Grand Opera, Paris. Without a doubt, this is the most famous theater France, whose history begins in 1669, when the composer Cambert and the poet Perrin, with the consent of the king Louis XIV founded an opera house in Paris. Over the centuries, the French Melpomene changed its name and location several times, until it finally “settled” in the IX district of the capital in a building designed by the architect Charles Garnier in 1875. On the stage of the Grand Opera at different times there were performances of operas by Italian, French and German composers, the premiere of the opera "Mavra" by the Russian composer I. Stravinsky took place here. Today, the Grand Opera House is called the Palais Garnier and remains one of the most visited theaters in the world.

Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. On March 26, 1776, Catherine the Great granted Prince P. Urusov the privilege of maintaining performances and other entertainment for the next ten years. By tradition, this date is considered the "birthday" of the Bolshoi Theater. The composition of the first troupe was quite diverse - from serf actors to foreign celebrities. The building for the theater was built in 1780 on the banks of the Neglinka, its repertoire consisted mainly of ballets and comic operas by Italian and Russian authors. In 1825, the theater troupe moved into a new building, whose acoustic properties were considered among the best in the world at that time. Many premieres took place on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater famous operas, for example, “Cherevichek” and “Mazepa” by P. Tchaikovsky or “Aleko” and “ of the miserly knight» S. Rachmaninov. The Bolshoi Theater has repeatedly hosted the troupes of its "colleagues" - Milan's La Scala Theater and the Vienna Opera.

Vienna Opera, Austria. The fact that the Vienna Opera House is one of the best in the world is quite logical, because Austria is the birthplace of many famous composers. The opening of the current theater building took place in May 1869 with Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. Although at first the neo-Renaissance theater was criticized ruthlessly, over time the architectural embodiment of the Vienna Opera gained recognition, and this theater is still considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The building, partially destroyed during the Second World War, was restored and inaugurated in 1955 with Beethoven's opera Fidelio. No theater in the world can compare with Vienna Opera by the number of performances: every year at least 60 operas are staged here, which amateurs theatrical art can enjoy 285 days a year. Another fact worth mentioning is the holding of the annual opera ball”, which attracts a huge number of both participants and spectators.

Metropolitan Opera, New York. The youngest of the luminaries of theatrical art. Its opening took place in 1883 with the opera "Faust" by C. Gounod. Surprisingly, from the day of its foundation and for more than a hundred years, the theater exists exclusively at the expense of private individuals and firms. The Metropolitan Opera moved to Lincoln Center in Manhattan in 1966. The theater building, of course, is inferior to its European counterparts in terms of the luxury of interior decoration, but it is confidently leading in use modern technologies. Performances at the Metropolitan Opera are held daily for seven months, and in July the troupe gives free performances in city parks, where a huge number of spectators gather. Outstanding singers of their time sang on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera at different times: Fyodor Chaliapin, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Galina Vishnevskaya, Elena Obraztsova, Dmitry Hvorostovsky and many others.

How wrong were those who believed: with the advent of cinema, and later television, theater, as separate view art will go into oblivion. Time has refuted such forecasts - the meaning of the word "sold out" is well known to many theaters of the world even today.