Popular theaters of the world. Romanian Ateneum, Bucharest, Romania

12 most beautiful and majestic world 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 pomposity of interiors. IN this moment the importance of opera performances has not lost its popularity, but in most cases opera and ballet theaters are perceived more as a kind of attraction than a leisure venue. La Scala
Milan, Italy

There is no other opera house in the history of opera as revered, as often copied, as often cited as a benchmark for comparison, as La Scala. But La Scala is not only a nice place for opera productions, this is the very symbol of opera - Italian opera.

The theater building was built in 1776-1778 on the site of the church "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 taken as a 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 is distinguished by impeccable acoustics. During World War II, the theater was destroyed and restored to its original form by the engineer L. Secchi, which was reopened in 1946. "The Rock" (as the Italians call the theater) opened in August 1778 with two operas, including A. Salieri's opera " Recognized Europe». Opra de Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo, Monaco

The Monte Carlo Opera House stands on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and is connected to the casino by a red marble foyer. The construction of the building took only six months, and the result was an extremely whimsical facade in the style of the Second Empire with unusually ornate towers and sculptures by Gustave Doré and Sarah Bernhardt. By the way, the author architectural project opera house, Charles Garnier shortly before 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 rebuilt after a fire. Theater building designed by architects Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Angelo Carasale for the Bourbon monarch Carlos III of Naples.

The theater experienced its greatest dawn in 1809-40, when the famous impresario Barbaia was its leader. The new theater was admired not only because of the works of art that were staged in the theater, but also because of its architecture, golden decoration, and sumptuous blue upholstery (blue and gold are the official colors of the Bourbons). On the stage of the theater there were world premieres of a number of operas by Rossini Donizetti and Giuseppe Verdi. Mariinskii Opera House
Saint-Petersburg, Russia

The Mariinsky Theater is a symbol of Russian culture. The chronology of his troupe has been conducted since 1783, when the Grand Theatre, on the site of which is now the St. Petersburg Conservatory. By order of Catherine the Great, the Bolshoi (Stone) Theater was erected on the site of this building, with splendor and splendor surpassing the largest theaters in Europe. It opened in 1783 with a performance of Paisiello's On the Moon.

In 1802 the theater was rebuilt by the architect Thomas de Thomon, and in 1836 it was reconstructed by Albert Cavos. Gorgeous decorative trim auditorium largely preserved to this day. The dazzling whiteness of the sculptures, the soft glow of gilding, the blue tone of the upholstery and draperies - such is the festive coloristic sound of the hall. The bright picturesque plafond was made by E. Fracioli according to the sketches of Professor K. Duzi. A huge, three-tiered bronze chandelier with crystal pendants and candelabra were donated by the merchant K. Pleske, who was awarded a gold medal "in consideration 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 the opera played in high French society. Napoleon III came to power in 1852. In the same year, he decided to start a radical renovation of the capital.

The work was entrusted to a man, by no means a Parisian in spirit, who thought only of economic development city ​​and felt no nostalgia for old Paris. The competition for the creation of an opera house brought together 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, who had only the 1848 Rome Grand Prix to his credit.

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

Bavarian state opera(Bayerische Staatsoper) is one of the leading opera stages in Germany. Located in Munich (2,100 seats). Founded in 1818. In 1963 it was opened after restoration with the play "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 burned to the ground five years later. The inhabitants of the city believed that this was a punishment from above. But already in 1825 bavarian opera reopened and performances continue to this day. Mikhailovsky Theater
Saint-Petersburg, Russia

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

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

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

The Amazonian Opera House is the second largest theater in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, in the city of Manaus. Designed in 1881, opened in 1896, in the midst of the so-called rubber fever in Brazil, becoming one of the symbols of the luxurious and serene life of the Belle Epoque of Western civilization. He impressed his contemporaries with his pomposity. After the end of the rubber boom, it fell into disrepair, but in the early 1990s it was restored again. Capacity 701 people. There is a parterre, mezzanine and an amphitheatre.

Romanian Athenaeum
Bucharest, Romania

Romanian Athenaeus - concert hall, built in 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 moments Romanian history. Recognized as a symbol of Romanian culture, Atenai was included in the list of the European cultural heritage.

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 Faust. In the early years, the theater gave preference to Wagner's operas, and the German troupe of the theater was led by the conductor Leopold Damrosch. The old building of the Metropolitan Opera House hosted the premieres of works by Giacomo Puccini: "Girl from the West" in December 1910 and, in December 1918, the triptych "Cloak", "Sister Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi". In October 1958, Samuel Barbara's opera Vanessa premiered and won the Pulitzer Prize for Outstanding Musical Work.

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 peace.

It is often referred to as "The Met" for short. The theater is open seven months a year: from September to April. Performances go on daily. From May to June the theater goes on tour. In addition, in July the theater gives free performances in the parks of New York, gathering a huge number of spectators. Oslo Opera House
Oslo, Norway

New Opera House - the largest cultural institution in modern Norway. In addition, the opera house is the first example in the world of architectural practice, when during the 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 Oslo Fjord. The sloping roof, finished with slabs of white Karar marble, descends to the water and can also be used as a recreation area.

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

King Karl XVI Gustav and his family have been living 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 project of architect Nikodemyc Tessin the Elder in the baroque style, typical for that time.

The palace is located on the island of Lovien, 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. Adelcrantz. The ballet troupe of the theater revives productions of the 18th century. The palace is surrounded by a luxurious park with a regular French part, decorated with pavilions and labyrinths, and a landscape 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.

What attracts art lovers in Europe? Numerous contemporary 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 of this art remain 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, french classic Stendhal stated that there is 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 the British Royal Theatre. 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 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 scope. 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 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 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

Loving opera, visiting Spain and passing by "" is an unforgivable mistake. The theater is known not only for its classical repertoire, but also for its modern approach to individual productions.

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, Niccolò 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". The modern repertoire is closely connected with the name of this classic. 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 delays with the issuance of visas, please contact our company. We will help you to obtain a European residence permit or citizenship as soon as possible.

Tickets for world-famous theater performances must be booked long in advance. Let's try to find out how these attractions attract theater-goers from all over the world and how much a ticket to best theater peace.

Of course, this list is clearly missing the Big 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

Covent Garden Theater

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

The modern building is already the third. In 1732, the theater opened its doors for the first time to spectators who came to see the production of "Secular Customs" based on the play by William Congreve. After 76 years, the Covent Garden building was destroyed by fire. It took 9 months to recover. The re-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.

A large-scale reconstruction of the theater took place in 1990. Now its 4-tiered hall accommodates 2268 visitors. Ticket prices for the Covent Garden Theater range from £15 to £135.

grand opera

The most famous theater in Paris is the Grand Opera. In 1669 Louis XIV"gave the go-ahead" for the founding of the opera house to the poet Pierre Perrin and the composer Robert Kamber. Over the centuries, the theater changed its name and location several times, until in 1862 it ended up in the IX 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 German, Italian and French composers over the years of the opera. It was here that the premiere of Stravinsky's opera "Mavra" took place. Its current name is the Palais Garnier, and it is perhaps the most visited theater in the world.

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

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

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

Second world war the theater was partially destroyed, but in 1955 it was solemnly re-opened with the opera Fidelio by Beethoven. In terms of the number of performances, none of the other opera houses is able to compare with the Vienna Opera. For 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 listed in the list of intangible cultural wealth protected by UNESCO.

La Scala

It was in Renaissance Italy that modern opera art. In 1776, the Milanese architect Giuseppe Piermarini liked 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 the name from its "ancestor".

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

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

Today, La Scala is rightfully read by one of the most famous theaters peace. This is the first after the Milan Cathedral that the tourists who arrived in Milan inspect.

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

Palace of Catalan Music

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

The facade of the Palace reminds us that in Spain European and Arab cultures are closely intertwined like nowhere else.

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, refracted, create an indescribable effect!

Sydney Opera House

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

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

Everyone knows what it looks like sydney theater 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 almost a thousand rooms, because the building is the "headquarters" for the Australian Opera, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet and the Sydney Theater Company.

The lighting of the theater consumes energy, quite comparable to the electricity consumption of a small Australian town.

Kabukiza

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

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

From the very beginning of human civilization, the theater has served as the main source of entertainment. Today, theater and opera performances have not lost their popularity and significance, and thousands of people around the world visit theaters every day and enjoy it. beautiful view art.

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

La Scala Theater is rightfully the most famous theater in the world. 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 by Rudiger Wolk

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

For many people, Australia is associated 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 by Shannon Hobbs

The opening took place in 1973. During construction, the main emphasis was placed on acoustics and visibility. That is why every theater spectator feels as if he has bought a ticket for the best place in the hall.

The theater building is home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Theater Company, the Australian Ballet and the Australian Opera. More than 1500 performances take place here every year.

3. Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow is 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 by jimmyweee

At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a statue of Apollo in a chariot, anticipating the grandiose performances taking place in the theater. Has great fame ballet troupe theater. Yuri Grigorovich staged here the legendary " Swan Lake” and “Golden Age”. The big one was opened after large-scale reconstruction in 2011.

4. Vienna State Opera

Built in 1869, 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 have been miraculously preserved. It was restored only in 1955. Today it continues to be one of the world's major opera venues. Under the arches of the Vienna Opera, traditional balls are held annually.

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 UNESCO World Heritage List.

Palau de la Musica Catalana, photo by Jiuguang Wang

The palace is one of the main theatrical and musical 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 center of art in the city of Lyon in France. This is an opera house that is suitable for grandiose performances and can accommodate more than 1000 people. The hall in the form of a horseshoe is divided into several levels, so even the spectators sitting far from the stage can see and hear everything well. The interior is designed in royal style with red and gold tones. Outside, the building is more austere, decorated with statues.

Les Celestins in Lyon, photo by Mirej

For more than two centuries, the best plays, operas, drama performances and concerts have been staged on the stage of Les Celestins.

The Covent Garden Theater is well known all over the world. Performances take place on its stage Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet. Stars of world classical music have performed in this majestic building since 1858.

Royal Opera House Convent Garden, photo

Previously, one could enter the theater only before the start of the performance with a ticket. Today you can see it by taking a short tour.

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

The Metropolitan Opera House, photo by Blehgoaway

The Met puts on over 200 performances each year. From time to time they are broadcast on television and radio.

9. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

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

Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, photo Yucatan

The theater has a capacity of 5,000 people and still hosts performances, ballet 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 in the so-called "golden age of entertainment" and was the first of its kind luxury theater for showing movies, musicals and various shows. Gradually he became calling card Chicago. Today Chicago theater is a mixture of different genres and styles, from performances and comedies to dance shows and pop concerts.

The Chicago Theatre, photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

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

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 the hallmark of 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 for the Catholic Christmas and Good Friday.

Paris Opera, France

The Paris Opera, also known as the Grand Opera and, is one of the most famous and significant theaters in the world. 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 an excursion, except for three holidays - Catholic Christmas, New Year and the 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.

Maria Callas, Leonard Warren, Fyodor Chaliapin, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko and Rene Fleming have performed on the theater stage at various times.

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. As part of the festival, theatrical performances various musical genres.

Vienna Opera, Austria

The largest theater in Austria, the Vienna Opera, opened in May 1869 premiere performance"Don Giovanni" by Mozart. 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 of the best traditions of the 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 the most ambitious projects Singapore. Inside there is a concert hall with 1600 seats, a theater with 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 residents of Singapore renamed the building "durian" - an exotic fruit that 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 rightly claim to be the world's oldest 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 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 performed by 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.

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