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	Composers
	Famous Operas
	Famous Opera Companies
	Famous Opera Houses
—	La Scala
—	Palais Garnier
—	Metropolitan Opera House
—	Royal Opera House
—	Sydney Opera House

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Famous Opera Houses

An opera house is a type of large performing arts building in which operas, ballets and other theatrical performances can take place. While some opera companies are the primary residents of an opera house, other opera houses are equally shared by a few different types of performing arts companies. In general, opera houses around the world share a few of the same characteristics, including:

a back stage area in which performers get prepare for a show
a stage on which the opera is performed
a sunken pit area in which the orchestra performs
audience seating (which may include a variety of leveled tiers).

Although a number of countries around the world now have their own opera houses, the first public opera house was established in 1637 in Venice, Italy. Known as the Teatro San Cassiano, this historic opera house drew in some Europe’s most talented opera singers, as well as some of the continent’s wealthiest spectators.

To pull in money and develop their own unique cultural venues, many other European countries (including Germany and France) soon followed suit, building their own opera houses. As Kings and other rulers began to recognize the draw these community centers had, they started throwing funds behind them to further their own political agendas.

Over the centuries, however, most opera houses distanced themselves from such incestuous political ties, finding funding from a combination of other sources. For example, today, funding for nearly all opera houses is pulled together from ticket sales, donations and grants.

In this section, we will take a closer look at some of the most famous opera houses around the world. Our articles will not only give you a historical look at how each opera house developed its reputation but they will also highlight some of the unique features each has to offer.

La Scala

Also referred to as the Teatro alla Scala, La Scala has been a revered opera house since its inception in Milan, Italy in 1778. Interestingly enough, La Scala was only constructed as a replacement for the ancient Teatro Ducale after it burned down in 1776. After the first reconstruction plan was rejected, Maria Theresa’s design was accepted as the plan for La Scala.

By selling boxes to some of the wealthiest residents of Italy, designers and construction workers who were building La Scala were able to construct the largest stage and Italy while also lavishly decorating the opera house itself. In recent years, renovations have sparked some controversy surrounding the La Scala opera house.

Metropolitan Opera House

While the Metropolitan Opera Company has been around since 1880, the resident opera house for this company, which currently lies at Lincoln Center in New York’s Upper West Side, has only been around since the mid-1960s, namely since 1966. When the Met’s original opera house failed to receive landmark status during the 1960s, it was destroyed, and the opera company took up residence at the Lincoln Center.

The Lincoln Center opera house includes some of the most up-to-date technologies, helping the Met bring audiences reliably spectacular performances each season. From state-of-the-art stage lighting to the finest acoustics and sound systems, the Metropolitan Opera House is one of the finest performing arts venues in the United States.

Sydney Opera House

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable, famous performing arts buildings in the world. While it provides a spectacular stage for a variety of traveling theater, ballet and other performing arts companies, the Sydney Opera House also provides a permanent residence for the Opera Australia.

In addition to the five distinct types of theaters that the Sydney Opera House contains, it also includes rehearsal areas for performers, as well as restaurants and bars for audience members. Depending on the time of year, private parties can rent space to hold weddings, conferences, etc. in the Sydney Opera House.

Resources

The Sydney Opera House (2007). The Sydney Opera House. Retrieved December 10, 2007 from the Sydney Opera House Web site: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/.

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