Top 7 Opera Houses in the World

by Jules on July 6, 2013

If your first ever opera or ballet moved you to tears of pure pleasure you’ll be a lifelong fan! And what better hobby than seeking out the very best opera houses in the world. With elegance, beauty and heritage in the actual buildings and legendary performances, these are our pick of the top seven.

The Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia
This Opera House is a unique and integral part of Moscow’s rich and varied history of Russia. The Bolshoi Theatre holds truly captivating ballet and opera performances since January 1825. This theatre is in the neoclassical architectural style and has been rebuilt many times throughout history and has been restored to the original design which was destroyed during the Soviet Era. The world-renowned Bolshoi displays 2-4 new productions every season which are created in the Bolshoi’s own workshops. This exquisite theatre is extremely popular with both tourists and locals and prices range anywhere from 100 rubles to 5,000 rubles depending on where the seats are located in the theatre.

The Liceu, Barcelona, Spain
The Gran Teatre del Liceu is another historic theatre which was established in 1847 in Ciutat Vella, Barcelona. Located on Barcelona’s famous La Rambla, the Liceu Pera House has been rebuilt twice due to the fires in 1861 and 1994. This opera house seats 2,292 people and is one of the largest theatres in Europe. The Liceu is both a producing and receiving opera house and usually brings in 2-3 new productions each year. The ticket prices at this one of a kind theatre generally range from 20 euros to 300 euros.

The Royal Opera House, London, UK
In the heart of London’s Covent Garden is the delightful Royal Opera House. This extraordinarily large opera house is often referred to as “Covent Garden” from the first construction site in 1732. The Royal Opera House hosts The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra. This current opera house is in English Baroque style and is the third building that has been built on the site since the two opera houses before it were destroyed from horrible fires in 1808 and 1857. This classic opera house seats 2,256 people and has four different levels of boxes and balconies. Ticket prices to this magnificent theatre are generally priced anywhere between 6 euros to 250 euros depending on seating.

Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy
The Teatro alla Scala or more commonly known as La Scala is located in Milan in Italy and is well known across the world as one of the very finest Opera Houses. Opened in 1778, the centrally located theatre is housed in a neoclassical building. This famous theatre is not only well known for the performers that have appeared there, but it is also one of the leading ballet and opera theatres in the world. The La Scala theatre currently has 2,800 seats and ticket prices range from 10 euros to 220 euros depending on the performance being held and the seating.

The War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, USA
This Opera house is based in San Francisco, California in the United States. This opera house holds the second largest opera company in America with a Beaux-Arts interior design. Construction for the War Memorial Opera House began in 1927 and was completed in 1932. This massive theatre holds 3,146 people and also holds an additional 200 standing places. Ticket prices usually range from $50 to $220 each.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
This unique looking opera house is located in Sydney and has won many modern architecture awards. This opera house was originally designed in 1957 but didn’t open up until 1973. This exquisite opera house is one of the most distinctive and famous buildings in the world. The Sydney Opera House displays over 1,500 performances every year and has an average of 1 million visitors annually. This opera house and all of the additional halls and theatres attached to it can seat an incredible 5,738 people. The pricing for tickets depends on the type of performance being viewed, but they generally range from $50 to $350.

The Hanoi Opera House, Hanoi, Vietnam
Built during the French colonial period, the Hanoi Opera House is located in Hanoi and was constructed between the years of 1901-1911. It’s based on the highly revered Paris Opera House, the Palais Garnier. This opera house hosts a variety of performances which include: concerts, ballet performances, orchestra performances, musicals, and theatrical plays. The Hanoi Opera House consists of three levels with a total of 600 seats. Depending on the type of performance, the cost for admission to this theatre range in price from 500 vnd to 3,000,000 vnd.

Image Credit; 1; Andre Lettau

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