11 Dramatic Virtual Tours of Stages Around the World

The Bolshoi Theater, Moscow

The world-famous Bolshoi Theater in Russia was designed by architect Andrei Mikhailov and holds performances of ballet and opera on its dazzling stage. During WW2, to stop the theater from being a target for bombers, the front colonnade of the building was disguised using the set from a classic opera. Explore behind-the-scenes of its costume department, or take a tour of the exterior of the building.

Carnegie Hall, New York City

A prestigious venue for both classical and popular music performances, Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan is made up of three auditoriums. There's a famous old joke that nearby the building a pedestrian stopped a musician from the venue and asked, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Without looking up the musician replied, "Practice." Discover the origins of the building or watch a video of The Philadelphia Orchestra performing in 360.

National Theater of Korea, Seoul

Opened in 1950, The National Theater of Korea was the first national theater in Asia. It houses four performance groups, including the National Changgeuk Company, which is traditional Korean opera performed as a play, but in a folk song style known as pansori. Discover more about the theater's history and performances, or watch some changgeuk.

Theatro Municipal, São Paulo

Situated in Brazil, the Theatro Municipal in São Paulo is mainly constructed from materials imported from Europe, as was the custom when it was built in 1903. The stage decorations didn't arrive in time for the opening night, so its first staged production had to be postponed! Explore what happens backstage or watch a 360 video of Wagner's Lohengrin performed at the theater.

Burgtheatre, Vienna

The second-oldest theater in Europe, the Burgtheatre was built in 1741 and was was largely destroyed by bombs and fire in 1945, but has since been fully restored. The extravagantly-painted ceiling of the grand staircase includes early work from Gustav Klimt, and includes his only known self-portrait. Explore the ceiling artwork in detail.

Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg

One of the most acoustically advanced concert halls in the world, the Elbphilarmonie has only recently been built, and opened its doors in January 2017. The Grand Hall is designed so that the performers sit in the middle of the audience, and is walled with 10,000 individually shaped plates that disperse the sound waves. Discover how the building was created, go backstage, or watch some if its performers in 360.

The Colosseum, Rome

The Colosseum might not be fully in action any longer, but in its time was the site of numerous forms of ancient Roman entertainment, from gladiatorial contests to Classic mythological dramas. Positioned in the middle of Rome, it is the largest amphitheater (open-air venue) ever built. Discover what it looks like from the outside or see a scale model of what it would have looked like when it was in use.

Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

The distinctive Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico is built in a mix of architectural styles, with Art Nouveau dominating the exterior and an Art Deco interior. The inside is decorated with artworks by prominent Mexican muralists, such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros and the stained glass "curtain" above the stage is a foldable glass panel by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Take a tour of the outside of the building.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney

Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who was chosen as part of an international competition, the Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre that hosts well over 1,500 performances a year. The first person to perform at the Sydney Opera House was Paul Robeson, who sang Ol' Man River to the construction workers as they ate lunch. You can tour one of the venue's stages or discover stories about its design and events.

Teatro Bibiena, Mantua

Teatro Bibiena is also known as the "scientific theater" as it was intended to host both theater productions and concerts, and scientific discourses and conventions. Designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena in 1767, a 13-year-old Mozart performed here on its opening night. Explore the painted frescoes or watch a music video filmed here.

Palais Garnier, Paris

At first glance, this may not look like something that can be found at one of the most famous opera houses in the world, however you might recognize it if you've ever seen Phantom of the Opera. The Paris Opera House lake resides underneath the foundations of the grandiose building due to the marshy area in which it was built. Take a tour of the magnificent stage, see the view from the roof or watch a performance by the Paris Opera Ballet in 360.