Heartbreaking tales of these fleeting stars
Arguably the most famous opera house in the world, Palais Garnier was built at the behest of Napoleon III and inaugurated in 1875.
The current venue, opened in 1858, is the third theater on the site, following disastrous fires in 1808 and 1856 to previous buildings.
Named for French architect Charles Garnier, the building is a masterpiece of Second Empire-style architecture blending elements from the Baroque, the classicism of Palladio, and Renaissance architecture.
The Royal Opera House is one of London's most distinguished landmarks. The historic building houses The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet.
Opened in 1908, Teatro Colón stands in the heart of Buenos Aires and is widely regarded as one of the best opera houses in South America.
The splendid interior features belle époque architectural flourishes and is renowned for its superlative acoustics.
Regarded as one of the leading opera and ballet theaters globally, La Scala has hosted Italy's greatest operatic artists, and many of the finest singers from around the world, since its inauguration in 1778.
Besides its role as leading opera house, the historic venue is also home to the La Scala Theatre Chorus, La Scala Theatre Ballet, La Scala Theatre Orchestra, and the Filarmonica della Scala orchestra.
Easily the most recognized opera house in the world, the Sydney Opera House is also one of the world's most distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. It was designed by Jørn Utzon.
The Sydney Opera House is the permanent home of Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, but also serves as a multi-venue performing arts center.
Opened in 1884, the Hungarian State Opera House was designed by Miklós Ybl, one of Europe's leading architects in the mid- to late-19th century, and part funded by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary.
The theater's influential directors have included such illustrious names as Ferenc Erkel, Gustav Mahler, and Otto Klemperer.
Completed in 1750, the Margravial Opera House is one of Europe's few surviving theaters of the period and is celebrated for its exceptional Baroque architecture.
The all-wood auditorium is simply breathtaking, intricately covered as it is in beautiful gilded accents and overlooked by a highly decorative trompe-l'œil ceiling.
Architect Zaha Hadid's astonishing Guangzhou Opera House holds court in the city's central business district and sits among skyscrapers and wide boulevards. Its visual appeal is simply stunning.
Inaugurated in 2010, the theater has become the biggest performing arts center in southern China.
Sources: (Britannica) (MasterClass)
See also: From Beethoven to Wagner: the best composers of all time
Opened in 1966 as part of the Lincoln Center, New York's Metropolitan Opera House is the most famous opera house in the United States, and one of the most iconic in the world.
It is one of the most technologically advanced opera houses, making it possible to stage complex modern interpretations of traditional opera. The architecture, too, is high tech. The constellation-type crystal chandeliers, for example, can be raised to the ceiling prior to performances so as not to obstruct sight lines of the audience on the upper levels.
Inaugurated in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria in 1869, the Vienna State Opera stands as a dazzling statement of 19th-century opulence.
One of Europe's great theaters, it's home to the Vienna State Opera as well as the Vienna State Ballet. And it's known globally for hosting the annual Vienna State Ball, a highlight of the city's social calendar.
Enjoying a setting in one the world's most celebrated palace buildings, the Royal Opera of Versailles has been performing in this glittering premises since 1770.
Originally used only for royal ceremonies and extraordinary performances, the theater quickly gained a reputation as an opera venue of choice, the acoustics lifted by an interior constructed almost entirely of wood and lavishly decorated in faux marble style.
Madrid's Teatro Real began hosting opera after Queen Isabella II opened the building to great fanfare in November 1850.
The first performance of opera staged here was Domenico Sarro's Achille in Sciro, the magnificent auditorium providing a suitably elaborate backdrop. The interior you see today is in fact the result of careful reconstruction after a fire gutted the building in 1816. Bomb damage in 1943 resulted in additional refurbishment.
Distinguished as the oldest continuously active venue for opera in the world, having opened in 1737, Teatro di San Carlo was commissioned by the Bourbon King Charles VII of Naples.
Considered one of the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theater, Teatro La Fenice has hosted some of the most celebrated operatic premieres, including major works by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi.
Inaugurated in 1792, Teatro La Fenice is revered as a venue that played a fundamental role in promoting early opera as a musical style in Italy and across Europe.
The imposing Semperoper is the home of the Saxon State Opera. The theater opened in 1841 but fell victim to fire in 1869. The second opera house was completed in 1878, but was largely destroyed during the Second World War. However, the venue was faithfully rebuilt, a project that was finally concluded in 1985.
The Semperoper has a long history of premieres, including major works by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. In addition to world-class opera, audiences can enjoy ballet and concert performances in one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world.
The theater closed in 1925 and reopened in 1966 as a symphonic music venue. Today, besides its regular annual program of opera, dance, concerts and recitals, Teatro Royal also acts as a favored venue for cultural events and contemporary music competitions.
Opera is an art form that combines theater and classical music. The first formal opera took place in 1597, but it was only in the early 18th century that theaters specially designed to host performances of this unique musical expression started appearing across Europe. Many of these historic venues are simply stunning in their architectural splendor and stand as testament to the reverence given to opera in the 18th and 19th centuries. And they are still hosting this popular form of entertainment today. So, where can you enjoy opera in dazzling and opulent surroundings?
Click through and admire some of the most prestigious opera houses in the world.
The most prestigious opera houses in the world
Historic opera venues that simply dazzle
MUSIC Travel
Opera is an art form that combines theater and classical music. The first formal opera took place in 1597, but it was only in the early 18th century that theaters specially designed to host performances of this unique musical expression started appearing across Europe. Many of these historic venues are simply stunning in their architectural splendor and stand as testament to the reverence given to opera in the 18th and 19th centuries. And they are still hosting this popular form of entertainment today. So, where can you enjoy opera in dazzling and opulent surroundings?
Click through and admire some of the most prestigious opera houses in the world.