| Opera is a beautiful language that speaks to our | | | | Explore La Fenice during your luxury Venice |
| hearts through musical and dramatic | | | | vacation accompanied by an audio guide available |
| performances. Immerse yourself in the epitome | | | | at the box office. Or partake in a group excursion |
| of cultural bliss during your luxury travel. Here are | | | | to the very heart of the Theatre. Admire the |
| our pick of the top five opera experiences around | | | | plasters and the gold of the prestigious halls and |
| the world: | | | | discover the secrets of the Theatre, including its |
| 1. The Metropolitan Opera House in New York | | | | origins, history and rebuilding. Enjoy an exclusive |
| City | | | | final cocktail served in the elegant Apollinee Halls. |
| Visit the Metropolitan Opera House during your | | | | 4. Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain |
| luxury New York vacation. It is the most widely | | | | The Teatro Real is one of the grandest operatic |
| known opera company in the world. The Met is | | | | venues in the world. The Theatre overlooks the |
| home to many creative and talented artists, | | | | Palacio Real, the official residence of His Royalty |
| including singers, conductors, composers, | | | | the King of Spain. Inaugurated in 1850 with |
| orchestra musicians, stage directors, designers, | | | | Donizetti's 'La Favorite', and under the aegis of |
| visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from | | | | Queen Isabella II, The Royal Theatre is associated |
| around the world. | | | | with the famous work of Verdi 'La Forza del |
| Through its National Council Auditions and | | | | Destino', which was presented on its stage for |
| Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, | | | | the first time. After being inactive for a period, |
| The Met discovers and trains artists, as well as | | | | the site reopened as a concert hall in the 1966 |
| presenting the best available talent from around | | | | and was remodeled in the 1990s to become an |
| the world. | | | | opera house. In 1997, the site was restored to its |
| Each season the Metropolitan stages more than | | | | original 19th-century magnificence. |
| two hundred opera performances in New York | | | | Explore The Teatro Real museum during your |
| and more than 800,000 people attend the | | | | five star Spanish vacation by partaking in one of |
| performances in the opera house during the | | | | the daily tours. |
| season. | | | | 5. Sydney Opera House, Australia |
| 2. Opéra Garnier in Paris | | | | The Sydney Opera House is a masterpiece of |
| Located in the heart of Paris, The Opera Garnier | | | | late modern architecture. Explore the Sydney |
| is a must see during your five star Paris holiday. | | | | Opera House during your luxury Sydney holiday |
| Designed to seat 2,200 people, it is regarded as | | | | and see why it is admired internationally and |
| one of the most prestigious ballet scenes in | | | | cherished by Australians. |
| Europe. Artists from all over the world stage | | | | The Sydney Opera House was created following |
| dancing, musical and lyrical performances. | | | | an international design competition where the brief |
| Regarded as one of the architectural | | | | was to create two performance halls, one for |
| masterpieces of its time, the building's | | | | opera and one for symphony concerts. A young |
| neo-Baroque façade looks most impressive | | | | architect, Denmark's Jørn Utzon, was |
| at night when it is illuminated by dozens of golden | | | | commissioned as the sole architect. His vision was |
| lamps and the glow of traffic lights. The | | | | an urban sculpture in patterned tiles, gleaming in |
| Opéra Garnier is without doubt one of the | | | | the sunlight and aglow at night against the |
| most exclusive cultural spots in Europe, drawing | | | | backdrop of Sydney Harbour. |
| tourists and music lovers from all over the world. | | | | In its short lifetime, Sydney Opera House has |
| 3. Teatro La Fenice in Venice | | | | earned a reputation as a world-class performing |
| Venice is home to one of the most famous | | | | arts centre and become an iconic symbol. It was |
| theatres in Europe, and the site of many famous | | | | inscribed in the World Heritage List in June 2007: |
| operatic premieres. Since opening and being | | | | "Sydney Opera House is a great architectural |
| named La Fenice, it has twice burned down and | | | | work of the 20th century. It represents multiple |
| was rebuilt in 19th-century style on the basis of a | | | | strands of creativity, both in architectural form |
| design by architect Aldo Rossi. The theatre | | | | and structural design, a great urban sculpture |
| reopened in December 2003 with an inaugural | | | | carefully set in a remarkable waterscape and a |
| concert of Beethoven, Wagner, and Stravinsky. | | | | world famous iconic building. |