A message about the famous theater. The most beautiful opera houses in the world. Colon Opera House, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

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

Teatro La Scala 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 Rudiger Wolk

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

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

Sydney Opera House, photo Shannon Hobbs

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

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

3. Bolshoi Theater

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 jimmyweee

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

4. Vienna State Opera

Built in 1869, the theater has long had a reputation as the center of musical life in Vienna and throughout Austria.

Vienna State Opera, photo JP

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

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

Palau de la Musica Catalana, photo Jiuguang Wang

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

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

Les Celestins in Lyon, photo Mirej

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

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

Royal Opera House Convent Garden, photo

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

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

The Metropolitan Opera House, photo Blehgoaway

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

9. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

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

Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, photo Yucatan

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

10. Chicago Theater

The Chicago Theater was built in 1921 during what is known as the "Golden Age of Entertainment" and was the first luxury theater of its kind to house movies, musicals and shows. Gradually it became a hallmark of Chicago. Today, Chicago theater is a mixture of different genres and styles, from plays and comedies to dance shows and pop concerts.

The Chicago Theatre, photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

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

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 - the fathers of ancient Greek theater - are known to any educated person today, and some of their plays do not leave the theater stage even in the age of digital technology. Speaking about theatrical stages, it should be noted that amphitheaters, which appeared in the era of antiquity, were completely “forgotten” in the Middle Ages, when theatrical performances were held in churches or right on market squares.

By the 16th century, the situation in Europe was changing: the first theaters were built to entertain the public. Today there are “temples of Melpomene” in every country, and some of them have acquired well-deserved world fame.

Covent Garden, London. Covent Garden is an area of the British capital that 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, a ballet and opera by George Handel, who at that time held the position of musical director of the theater, was staged in Covent Garden. Covent Garden burned twice, in 1808 and 1856, and the current theater building, built in 1858, was completely reconstructed in the 1990s. Many famous opera singers have performed and continue to perform on its stage, and Covent Garden itself is famous 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 come as a surprise. Theaters on the Apennine Peninsula existed back in the days of the Roman Empire, and modern opera originates in Italy during the Renaissance. Teatro La Scala opened in 1778 with the production of the opera “Europe Recognized.” Its author was Antonio Salieri, the famous hero of Pushkin’s poem and at one time a fairly popular composer. Since then, La Scala has hosted the premieres of operas by many world-famous Italian composers, such as Puccini, Bellini, Verdi and Rossini. In 2004, after a three-year reconstruction, the theater season on the renovated stage opened, as many years ago, with Salieri’s opera “Europe Recognized.” By the way, it is 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 in France, whose history begins in 1669, when the composer Cambert and the poet Perrin, with the consent of King Louis XIV, founded the opera house in Paris. Over the centuries, the French Melpomene changed its name and location several times until it finally “settled” in the IX arrondissement of the capital in a building designed by the architect Charles Garnier in 1875. On the stage of the Grand Opera, operas by Italian, French and German composers were staged at different times, and the premiere of the opera “The Maura” by the Russian composer I. Stravinsky took place here. Nowadays the Grand Opera Theater 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 to a new building, the acoustic properties of which were considered at that time one of the best in the world. Many premieres of famous operas took place on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, for example “Cherevichek” and “Mazepa” by P. Tchaikovsky or “Aleko” and “The Miserly Knight” by 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, since 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 the theater, built in the neo-Renaissance style, was initially subjected to merciless criticism, over time the architectural embodiment of the Vienna Opera received recognition, and to this day this theater is 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 the Vienna Opera in terms of the number of performances: every year at least 60 operas are staged here, which theater lovers can enjoy 285 days a year. Another fact worthy of mention is 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 companies. The Metropolitan Opera moved to Lincoln Center in Manhattan in 1966. The theater building is certainly inferior to its European counterparts in the luxury of its interior decoration, but it is a confident leader in the use of modern technologies. Performances at the Metropolitan Opera are staged daily for seven months, and in July the troupe gives free performances in city parks, which attract huge numbers of spectators. 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 a separate art form would go into oblivion. Time has refuted such forecasts - the meaning of the word “sold out” is well known to many theaters around the world even today.

What attracts art lovers to Europe? Numerous contemporary 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? To put it very briefly, it is a synthesis of 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 remain must-visit places for lovers of this art.

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 opera classics Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, and Rossini first presented their works. 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. Its first artistic director 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.

At the beginning of the 19th century, in addition to opera and ballet, dramatic works were staged here and even clowning was performed. 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 facade 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 is the largest palace theater in the world. The architectural feature of 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 took place here, 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: 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 façade, designed 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

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 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 Mastersingers 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 the premieres of Wagner’s significant works took place here – “Tristan and Isolde”, “Das Rheingold”, “Walkyrie”. The name of this classic is closely associated with the modern repertoire. Mozart, Strauss, and Orff also loved the theater.

When making your plans 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 obtain a European residence permit or citizenship as soon as possible.

Daria Nessel| Oct 6, 2017

Opera is one of the most popular genres of musical and dramatic art. No matter how life and fashion change, interest in opera never fades. Every day several dozen operas are performed around the world, and hundreds of thousands of people come to listen to them.

At the same time, opera is not just a piece of music - it is a magical world consisting of bewitching music, an abundance of light and luxury.

The creation of the appropriate atmosphere is greatly facilitated by opera houses, into the design of which architects and engineers invest all their skills and talents. Therefore, there are many amazingly beautiful and original opera theaters in the world, which many lovers of this art form dream of visiting. Among the latter are the theaters that will be discussed.

London Theater Royal

The original name is the Royal Opera House, but in the world it is better known as the Covent Garden Theatre. Operas have been staged here since 1734. The first opera that Londoners heard from its stage was F. Handel's opera The Faithful Shepherd.

During this time, the theater was destroyed twice and was reborn from the ashes three times, like the Phoenix bird.

The first building rose on the site of a park area in Covent Garden in the 1720s and 30s and opened its doors to listeners on December 7, 1732. But a fire that occurred 76 years later destroyed the theater almost to the ground.

Construction of the second building, which by that time had already become a very famous opera house, began almost immediately after the fire. The architect of the new project was Robert Smerk. Construction took only 9 months, and in September 1809, D. Verdi’s opera “Macbeth” was performed on the new stage.

It is noteworthy that for many years not only opera and ballet performances were shown here, but also various clown shows. This continued until the reconstruction in 1847, after which the theater became known as the Royal Italian Opera. And 9 years later there was a second fire.

Construction of the modern building began a few months after the fire. It was designed by the famous architect E. Barry.

The next opening of the opera house took place in the spring of 1858. The season opened with “The Huguenots” by D. Meyerbeer.

During the First World War the theater was used as a warehouse, and during the Second World War it served as a dance hall. And only in 1945 the theater began its next revival.

London Theater Royal.

Photographer Norio NAKAYAMA/Fkickr.com

The modern Royal Theatre, rebuilt and renovated at the end of the 20th century, can accommodate 2,256 spectators. One of the hallmarks of the theater is a gallery of glass openwork arches, located on the site of a former flower market. Another local attraction is the ceiling, the design of which exactly repeats the design of previous buildings.

By the way, Covent Garden became the prototype of the galactic theater from the science fiction action film The Fifth Element.

Nowadays, the theater is not only a place where you can listen to opera, but also a real museum - visitors can look behind the scenes of the theater, explore the royal lounge intended for monarchs and other high-ranking persons and see how preparations for the performance are going on.

Opera tickets in Covent Garden cost from 70 to 216 €. However, sometimes you can get them for a very small price, for example, during an auction that is held every Friday.

Paris Opera (Palais Garnier)

In other words, the Grand Opera or the Palais Garnier. The construction of the theater was initiated by Napoleon III and designed by Charles Garnier. Construction work began in 1860, but was completed only in 1875 (due to the protracted war with Prussia and internal turmoil in France).

The new theater became the 13th in the country. And the most unusual thing is that in the construction and design, various styles and trends of architecture are combined and intertwined in the most extraordinary way.

In addition to opera productions, the Grand Opera is widely known for its interior design. The main theater attractions are the foyer and main staircase, lined with multi-colored marble, as well as ceiling decorations with images of musical allegories.

The decoration of the auditorium is dominated by red and gold. It is made in Italian style, and is made in the shape of a horseshoe. It is illuminated by a huge crystal chandelier, and on the ceiling are scenes from operas and Parisian landmarks. The ceiling painting was carried out by M. Chagall in 1964.

Spectators are treated to 1,900 red velvet-trimmed seats, and the stage is decorated with a draped curtain with gold braid and tassels.

The theater also became famous for its legends. According to one of them, it was in its cellars that the famous Phantom of the Opera lived.

Ticket prices to the most famous opera house in the world range from 30 to 250 €. In addition, those who wish can come here as a museum and visit the theater library-museum. The cost of a backstage tour of the theater is 13.5 € for adults and 9.5 € for children.

New York Opera (Metropolitan Opera)

Americans themselves most often call their opera house the Met. It is the only one on the list of “great” ones built in the 20th century. True, even before the construction of the current building, a theater with the same name was located on Broadway.

For the first time, the new theater, built in the modernist style according to the design of W. Harrison, met opera fans in 1966 in the modernist style. The interior of the theater is decorated with frescoes by M. Chagall.

The main attraction of the Metropolitan is the hall, which from the very first days was dubbed the “diamond horseshoe”. It owes its name to its unusual shape and large number of lamps. The five-arched hall seats 3,650 spectators.

It is noteworthy that many performances can be watched without entering the theater - they are broadcast on a plasma screen on the facade of the building. Mini-screens are also installed on the backs of the seats in each row. They broadcast simultaneous translation if the opera is in a foreign language.

Tickets for New York Opera productions can be purchased for $27–$445.

Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth (Markgräfliches Opernhaus)

One of the main Bavarian attractions (Germany), one of the oldest European opera houses. Built in 1748, it is a striking example of Baroque architecture. Several years ago it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the time of its construction, the theater stage in Bayroth was the largest in Europe. And its interior design was carried out by the then famous Giuseppe Galli-Bibiena and his son.

The main hall of the theater is surrounded by three rows of boxes and is made entirely of wood. It seats 500 people and makes a lasting impression - every detail here looks beautiful and luxurious. The interior contains paintings and carved elements.

The ceiling is decorated with a fresco by J. B. Müller, which depicts scenes from Metamorphoses.

When decorating the ceiling, the craftsmen skillfully used the trampe technique, which helps create the effect of volumetric space through the play of shadow and light.

Currently, the theater was under reconstruction, but its doors were open to tourists. The cost of a theater tour is 2.5 €.

The design of the theater contains many decorative stucco elements with gilding. On the ceiling there are paintings by Lefler, based on Shakespeare's plays.

In the spring of 1925, there was a fire in the building again - the stage was completely burned out, and the auditorium was badly damaged. But just a year later the productions were resumed.

In 1965-67 and 1996-2007. restoration work was carried out here. The theater was equipped with the most modern equipment.

Today the hall of the Odessa theater receives 1664 visitors. Ticket prices for opera performances range from 20 to 150 hryvnia.

Surprisingly, the largest European theater is not in London or even in Vienna, but in Naples. The Royal Theater of Naples or Teatro San Carlo seats 3,285 people.

In addition, it is the oldest operating theater in the world. The San Carlo Opera House was opened in 1737 by King Charles of Bourbon. Before the construction of La Scala in Milan, this opera house was the most prestigious theater in Italy.

Many operas were staged here, including the famous works of Gioachino Rossini. In the twentieth century, such composers and conductors as Giacomo Puccini, Pietro Mascagni, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Umberto Giordano, Francesco Cilea worked and staged their operas in the theater.

Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Despite the fact that Milan's La Scala theater cannot boast of outstanding statistical records, it is perhaps the most famous stage in the world.

The world famous Milan opera house Teatro alla Scala was built in 1776-1778 on the site of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the name of the theater itself came. The new venue was opened on August 3, 1778 with a production of Antonio Salieri's opera “Europe Recognized.”

During World War II the theater was destroyed. After restoration of its original appearance by engineer L. Secchi, the theater was reopened in 1946. Now the La Scala auditorium consists of 2,015 seats.

It is an honor for any artist to perform in this theater; the best of the best have been coming here since the 18th century. The names of many great opera composers of the world are closely associated with La Scala, including Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi.

La Scala houses not only an opera troupe, but also a choir, ballet and symphony orchestra of the same name. There is a museum in the foyer, which displays paintings, sculptures, costumes and historical documents related to the history of opera and theater.

By the way, when visiting the theater it is worth remembering that it is customary to come to La Scala in black clothes.

(Royaloperatictheater), London

Few people can argue with Italy in the art of opera, but modern theater was revived in Britain.

The Royal Theater Covent Garden is considered one of the most famous venues in the world. The first theater on this site was built back in 1732. After fires in 1808 and 1856, the building was completely destroyed. The current theater building was built to the design of Barry (the son of the architect who built Parliament) in 1858.

Here in 1892, for the first time in Great Britain, Wagner’s grandiose opera “The Ring of the Nibelung” was performed under the baton of the outstanding composer and conductor Gustav Mahler. The building is currently home to the Royal Opera and Ballet companies, although it is often used by touring opera and ballet companies from various countries.

In December 1999, the theater was reopened after reconstruction, which made it possible to significantly expand the auditorium. There is also a new foyer in the Flower Hall, where concerts are regularly held. Unlike the London Coliseum (National Opera), where all operas are performed in English, regardless of the original, at the Royal Opera everything is performed in the language in which the opera was written.

(Paris Opera or Opéra Garnier), Paris

The Paris State Opera has been the heart of French musical and theatrical culture for many years. Currently it is called the National Academy of Music and Dance. The theater was opened on January 5, 1875, it also housed a ballet school, which has existed since 1713 and is considered the oldest in Europe.

The building is located in the Garnier Palace in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, at the end of the Avenue des Opera, near the metro station of the same name. The building is considered a standard of eclectic architecture in the Beaux Arts style. It dates back to the era of major transformations of the city, successfully implemented by Napoleon III and Prefect Haussmann. The Grand Opera building amazes with its complexity of decor and somewhat excessive luxury, the same applies to the interior of the theater.

The main staircase lobby is one of the most famous parts of the Opera Garnier. Lined with marble of various colors, it accommodates a double flight of stairs leading to the theater foyers and theater floors. The main staircase is also a theater, the stage where the select public paraded in the days of crinolines. The four parts of the painted ceiling depict various musical allegories. At the bottom of the stairs there are two bronze floor lamps - female figures holding bouquets of light.

The large foyer was designed by Garnier on the model of the state galleries of old castles. The play of mirrors and windows visually gives the gallery even more spaciousness. On the magnificent ceiling, painted by Paul Baudry, there are scenes from musical history, and the main decorative element is the lyre.

The red and gold Italian style auditorium is shaped like a horseshoe. It is lit by a huge crystal chandelier and the ceiling was painted in 1964 by Marc Chagall. The hall accommodates 1,900 spectator seats, decorated with red velvet. A magnificent curtain of painted fabric imitates red drapery with gold braid and tassels.

(Vienna State Opera), Vienna

The Vienna State Opera is the leading opera company in Austria. The building itself in which it is now located was built in 1869, but the first performances of the opera troupe were given 2 centuries earlier. They took place in the royal palace, as well as on the stage of other theaters.

The theater opened on May 25 with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni. The auditorium has 1,313 seats, but there are also 102 standing places.

The facade of the Vienna Opera is richly decorated, depicting fragments from the opera “The Magic Flute” written by Mozart. The flourishing of the theater is associated with the name of the outstanding Austrian composer and conductor Gustav Mahler.

Since 1964, the opera house has hosted performances of the world-famous ballet “Swan Lake,” in which the main role was performed for many years by the talented choreographer Rudolf Nureyev, whose fans became many residents and guests of Vienna.

Every year in February, the building is transformed; the most famous ball in Austria takes place here, and at night both the stage and the auditorium turn into a huge dance floor, where numerous couples waltz.

, Moscow

The State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia (SABT RF), or simply the Bolshoi Theater, is one of the largest in Russia and one of the most significant opera and ballet theaters in the world. The history of the theater dates back to March 1776.

During the Napoleonic War, the theater building burned down, so in 1821 construction of the theater began on the original site. It reopened three years later on August 20, 1856.

The next reconstruction was carried out in the 21st century. The Opera House resumed its work in 2012 after reconstruction. The new seats for the auditorium repeat the appearance of the seats of the pre-Soviet era, and the number of seats has also returned to its previous size. Chairs and armchairs have become more comfortable, and the width of the aisles has increased.

The decor of the auditorium was restored in the form in which Kavos originally intended it. It took 4.5 kg of gold to gild the papier-mâché moldings. By special order for the Bolshoi Theater, an organ was manufactured and delivered from Belgium.

Perhaps the most famous productions of the theater are the ballets “Swan Lake” and “The Golden Age” staged by Grigorovich.

, Saint Petersburg

The Mariinsky Theater traces its history back to the Bolshoi Theater founded in 1783 by order of Empress Catherine the Great. The Mariinsky Theater itself, named after the wife of Alexander II, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, opened on October 2, 1860 with Mikhail Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar.”

In 1883-1896, large-scale restoration work was carried out in the building of the Mariinsky Theater under the leadership of the architect V. Schröter. As a result of the work, the acoustic conditions of the stage and auditorium were significantly improved, the necessary extensions were erected, and magnificent interiors were created, which brought the Mariinsky Theater the glory of one of the most beautiful theaters not only in Russia, but throughout the world.

For more than a century, the Mariinsky Theater has been a symbol of Russian theatrical culture. The names of such famous figures of the Russian stage as F. Chaliapin, F. Stravinsky, G. Ulanov, A. Pavlov, R. Nureyev, M. Baryshnikov and many others are associated with the Mariinsky Theater.

World-famous productions of the Mariinsky Theater, such as “Swan Lake”, “Eugene Onegin”, “The Nutcracker”, were recognized as classics of world art.