Guangzhou Opera House
The Guangzhou Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid, opened on May 9, 2010. The acoustics here are very good, so even complex productions are not difficult to perform; they delight the audience with their musicality. World stars often perform on the theater stage. The repertoire includes operas, ballets, musicals and even concerts. The theater is especially popular among photography enthusiasts, and indeed, photos against the backdrop of an unusual building turn out incredibly interesting.
Construction history
The construction of the Guangzhou Opera House was planned by the government in 2002, and a competition was held to select the best architectural solution. The winner was Zaha Hadid, a creator from Great Britain, already known for her worldwide projects. When creating the project, the architect was inspired by marine motifs. The shape of the Guangzhou Opera House may resemble pebbles that have been washed by the sea for a long time. Construction of the building began in 2005 and lasted 5 years; about $200 million was spent on its creation. The opera "Turandot" is the theater's first production. And although not all local residents accepted it unequivocally, it laid a successful start to the work.
It is believed that the unusual shape of the Guangzhou Opera House building is a symbol of Guangzhou itself. People with imagination associate rounded edges with the winding bed of the Pearl River. For locals, the river is the main waterway, which explains the respect with which every city resident treats it.
Internal filling
The Guangzhou Opera House surprises everyone from the outside, but once you go inside, the surprise does not go away. The huge hall, which can accommodate 1,800 spectators, is distinguished not only by its size, but also by its beauty. The multi-tiered ceiling is covered with many bright LED lamps. The lighting fixtures are located in such a way that when turned on, the ceiling seems to turn into a starry sky. Such lighting does not blind, but gives volume to the stage and makes each production more interesting. Tourists who are accustomed to visiting European theaters, where a large crystal chandelier hangs in the center of the hall, are shocked by this approach to lighting. The latest technologies that were used in arranging the hall of the Guangzhou Opera House make it possible to stage even very technically complex productions. In addition to classical and modern operas, the theater regularly hosts concerts.
Currently, the theater does not organize full-fledged excursions, but anyone can purchase a ticket in advance and attend any production. Those who do not want to spend an evening at the opera or ballet can go to the box office area and look around the foyer.
The capital of Guangdong province is famous for its modern buildings, which some residents and tourists associate with spaceships and alien structures. The Futurist-style building of the Guangzhou Opera House can deservedly take its place on the list of places to visit when traveling to China.
