The most famous theaters in the world. The most famous opera houses in the world: list

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

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

10. Lincoln Center, New York, USA

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

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

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

8. Royal Opera of Versailles, Versailles, France

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

7. Paris Opera, Paris, France

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

6. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

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

5. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia

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

4. Royal Opera House, London, England

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

3. Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

2. Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Italy

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

1. La Scala, Milan, Italy

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

Among music lovers there are fans of an ancient, but very interesting manifestation of it - opera. But even if you are indifferent to opera music, you will most likely be delighted by the beauty of its abode - the opera house. This top 10 most beautiful opera houses in the world will tell you about the amazing buildings and “guide” you through the luxurious halls.

10 Theater Royal, Covent Garden

9 Sydney Opera House

8 Opera Royal de Versailles

7 Gran Teatro del Liceo

6 Teatro di San Carlo

5 Estates Theater

4 Markgrafliches Opernhaus

3 Opera House in Harbin

2 State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia

1 Opera Garnier

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

Sydney Opera House, Australia

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

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

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

Paris Opera, France

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

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

The theater can be visited every day as part of a tour, except for three holidays - Catholic Christmas, New Year and Workers' Day on May 1.

Metropolitan Opera, New York, USA

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

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

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

La Scala, Milan, Italy

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

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

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

Lake stage of the Bregenz Festival, Austria

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

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

Vienna Opera, Austria

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

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

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

Esplanade Theatre, Singapore

The Esplanade Theater has become one of Singapore's most ambitious projects. Inside there is a concert hall with 1,600 seats, a theater with 2,000 seats, several restaurants, a shopping center and another open-air theater. Two architectural bureaus worked on the project simultaneously.

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

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

Arena di Verona, Italy

The Arena di Verona, which was built around 30 AD, can rightfully lay claim to being the oldest operating theater in the world. 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 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The arena at various times was the site 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. It is now open from June to August, when the best opera performers come to Verona. In addition, the theater can be visited as part of excursions - from Tuesday to Sunday.

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

Globe Theatre, London, UK

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

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

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

Albert Hall, London, UK

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

Over the years, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, ABBA, Depeche Mode performed. The climactic scene of Albert Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much was filmed here. The first Russian musician to perform at the Albert Hall was Boris Grebenshchikov and his band Aquarium in 2007.

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

Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com

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 Moor” by the Russian composer I. Stravinsky took place here. Nowadays 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 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. Rachmaninoff. 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 performed 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.

12 of the world's most beautiful and majestic 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 the pomp of interiors. At the moment, the importance of opera productions has not lost its popularity, but in most cases, opera and ballet theaters are perceived more as a kind of attraction than a platform for leisure activities. La Scala
Milan, Italy

In the history of opera, there is no other opera house as revered, as often copied, as often cited as a standard of comparison, as La Scala. But La Scala is not only a beautiful place for opera performances, it is the very symbol of opera - Italian opera.

The theater building was built in 1776-1778 on the site of the Church of 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 block of marble was found, on which Pylades, the famous mime of Ancient Rome, was depicted. 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 has impeccable acoustics. During the Second World War, the theater was destroyed and restored to its original form by engineer L. Secchi, which was reopened in 1946. “Scala” (as the Italians call the theater) opened in August 1778 with two operas, including A. Salieri’s opera “Recognized Europe,” specially written for this occasion. Oprah de Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo, Monaco

The Monte Carlo Opera House stands on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, connected to the casino by a red marble foyer. The construction of the building took only six months, and the result was an extremely intricate façade in the style of the Second Empire with unusually richly decorated towers and sculptures by Gustav Doré and Sarah Bernhardt. By the way, the author of the architectural design of the opera house, Charles Garnier, had recently 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 restored again after a fire. The theater building designed by the architects Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Angelo Carasale for the Bourbon monarch Carlos III of Naples.

The theater experienced its greatest prosperity in 1809-40, when its director was the famous impresario Barbaya. The new theater was admired not only for the works of art that were staged in the theater, but also for its architecture, gold decoration, and luxurious blue upholstery (blue and gold are the official colors of the Bourbons). The theater stage hosted world premieres of a number of operas by Rossini Donizetti and Giuseppe Verdi. Mariinsky Theater
St. Petersburg, Russia

The Mariinsky Theater is a symbol of Russian culture. His troupe dates back to 1783, when the Bolshoi Theater was opened in St. Petersburg, on the site of which the St. Petersburg Conservatory is now located. By order of Catherine the Great, the Bolshoi (Stone) Theater was erected on the site of this building, surpassing the largest theaters in Europe in splendor and splendor. It opened in 1783 with a performance of Paisiello's opera On the Moon.

In 1802, the theater was rebuilt by the architect Thomas de Thomon, and in 1836 it was reconstructed by Albert Kavos. The magnificent decorative decoration of the auditorium has largely been preserved to this day. The dazzling whiteness of the sculptures, the soft shine of gilding, the blue tone of the upholstery and draperies - this is the festive coloristic sound of the hall. The bright picturesque ceiling was made by E. Fracioli based on the sketches of Professor C. Dusi. A huge, three-tiered bronze chandelier with crystal pendants and candelabra were made with donations from the merchant K. Pleske, who was awarded a gold medal “in recognition 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 opera played in high French society. In 1852, Napoleon III came to power. In the same year, he decided to begin a radical renovation of the capital.

The work was entrusted to a man who was by no means a Parisian in spirit, who thought only about the economic development of the city and did not feel any nostalgia for old Paris. The competition to create an opera house attracted 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, whose only record was the 1848 Rome Grand Prix.

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

The Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper) is one of the leading opera stages in Germany. Located in Munich (2,100 places). Founded in 1818. In 1963 it was opened after restoration with the performance “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 five years later it burned to the ground. Residents of the city believed that this was a punishment from above. But already in 1825, the Bavarian Opera reopened, and performances there continue to this day. Mikhailovsky Theater
St. Petersburg, Russia

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

Bryullov created a magic box: the fact that a theater is hidden behind the modest façade 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 within: silver and velvet, mirrors and crystal, painting and modeling.

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

The Amazon Opera House is the second largest theater in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, in the city of Manaus. Designed in 1881, opened in 1896, at the height of the so-called rubber rush in Brazil, becoming one of the symbols of luxurious and serene life during the Belle Epoque of Western civilization. He amazed his contemporaries with his pomp. After the end of the rubber boom, it fell into disrepair, but was restored again in the early 1990s. Capacity 701 people. There are stalls, mezzanine and amphitheater.

Romanian Athenaeum
Bucharest, Romania

The Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall built in the 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 building's interior dome is painted with frescoes depicting key moments in Romanian history. Recognized as a symbol of Romanian culture, the Athenaeum was included in the European Cultural Heritage List in 2007.

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

It is often called "Meth" for short. The theater is open seven months a year: from September to April. Performances are performed daily. From May to June the theater goes on tour. In addition, in July the theater gives free performances in New York parks, attracting huge crowds. Oslo Opera House
Oslo, Norway

The New Opera House is the largest cultural institution in modern Norway. In addition, the opera building is the first example in world architectural practice when, during 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 Oslofjord. The sloping roof, finished with slabs of white Carara marble, slopes down to the water and can also be used as a recreation area.

The building was designed by the Norwegian architectural bureau Snoehetta, which had previously designed 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 Charles XVI Gustav and his family have lived 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 design of the architect Nicodemus Teccin the Elder in the Baroque style, typical of that time.

The palace is located on the island of Lowen, 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. Adelkrantz. The theater's ballet troupe revives 18th-century productions. The palace is surrounded by a luxurious park with a regular French part, decorated with gazebos and labyrinths, and a landscaped 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.