Only a palace like Versailles would have its own theater and opera house and on such a grandiose scale. The interior of the theater was designed by Augustin Pajou and all of its elements were constructed entirely of wood and painted to resemble marble. The opera was inaugurated in 1770 in celebration of the marriage of Louis XVI to Marie-Antoinette. Today, the Opera Royal is used for operas themselves, stage plays, and orchestral events, and anyone, not just royalty, can purchase a ticket.
Mariinsky theater – Saint Petersburg
Opened as the center for theater and ballet performances in Saint Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, in 1860, the Mariinsky theater was the preeminent musical theater of late 19th century Russia. In its halls, some of the greatest Russian composers performed, like Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky. During the Soviet era that theater’s name was changed to the Kirov theater (famous for its ballet), but today, the name Mariinsky has been restored and is once again celebrated throughout the world.
Estates theater – Prague
The Estates theater is a gorgeous historical theater in Prague that was built during the 18th century. It’s construction symbolized a response to Enlightenment, which saw the theater and the performing arts as essential elements of a nation’s culture. Today, opera, ballet and drama ensembles perform within its walls that still never fail to stun with their blue majesty.
The Bolshoi theater – Moscow
Although Saint Petersburg is the cultural center of Russia, which does not mean that its true capital, Moscow, can’t too have a theater of its own. The Bolshoi theater was designed by architect Joseph Bove in 1821. There was also a Bolshoi theater in Saint Petersburg, as Bolshoi was the official imperial theater of Russia. Today, the Bolshoi has a world-renowned opera and ballet, with more than 200 dancers and its very own dancing school.
gravial Opera House – Bayreuth, Germany
This baroque style opera house was built between 1744-1748 by the architect Joseph Saint-Pierre and is one of the only surviving theaters from this period in Europe. The interior was designed by the famous Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, who came all the way from Italy to introduce the traditional baroque style in Germany. The opera house has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its unique style, but is currently closed to visitors until further notice for renovations.
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