Explore the Worlds Most Dramatic Stages from your Home

Another two weeks of lockdown and nothing interesting to do Why not evoke the inner-performer in you with a virtual tour of the world&rsquos most dramatic stages. Explore the best theatres, amphitheatres, concert halls and opera houses with Google Arts and Culture from the comfort of your couch. 

Carnegie Hall, New York

Situated in the Big Apple, Carnegie Hall first opened its doors in 1891. Over the years, this landmark has witnessed some of the most iconic performances from fine artists from Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Bart&oacutek to George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, and even The Beatles. There are three halls in this venue, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Zankel Hall, and Weill Recital Hall which are famous for both modern and classical music events. On the site you can watch a 360° video of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Theatro Municipal, S&atildeo Paulo

Home of Rio&rsquos ballet, orchestra and opera, the magnificent Theatro Municipal&nbspwas built in 1905 in S&atildeo Paulo. This Paris-style building is the biggest opera house in Brazil and has staged many artists like Enrico Caruso, Maria Callas, Arturo Toscanini, Ana Pavlova, Arthur Rubinstein, Claudio Arrau, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Isadora Duncan, Nijinsky, Baryshnikov, among many others. Its grandeur and intricate interiors include stage curtains painted by Italian artist Eliseu Visconti that features Wagner and Rembrandt and Carlos Gomes amongst the 75 major figures from arts.

Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow

Even after being repeatedly hit by fire and rebuilt numerous times, the Bolshoi Theatre&nbspstands to be one of Moscow&rsquos most iconic attractions and Russia&rsquos most celebrated theatre. The building was constructed in 1780 as a public theatre and holds ballet and opera performances on its incredible stage. One of the oldest performing arts venues of the world, its final renovation lasted for six years after which, in 2011, it opened its doors once again.

National Theatre of Korea, Seoul

This Seoul based National Theatre&nbspwas opened in 1950 and was Asia&rsquos first government-supported theatre. The building consists of four spaces - The Haeoreum Theater, the Daloreum Theater, the Byeoloreum Theater and The Haneul Theater. Various types of performances like ballet, kabuki and full pansori, and even changgeuk (Korean opera) are hosted here.

Palais Garnier, Paris

A 19th- century architectural masterpiece, the Palais Garnier&nbspis known to be the 13th opera house in Paris since the introduction of French opera by Louis XIV in 1669. The Paris Opera House lake flows underneath the foundations of this massive house. Inside the building, it's the ceiling painted by Chaghall&nbspthat gets all the attention. Google Arts and Culture offers a view from the roof, or a Paris Opera Ballet performance at 360°.

Burgtheater, Vienna

The Burgtheater&nbspin Vienna is the second-oldest theatre in Europe. This massive building traces its roots back to 1741 when it was built as a stage. In 1776, it was converted into an official court and national theatre under Emperor Josef II. In 1945, it was partially destroyed by bombings but got restored soon after that. The important ceiling paintings consist of a close-up of Gustav Klimt&rsquos famous self-portrait in the area of grand staircases dated back to 1887.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney

At the Bennelong point of the Sydney Harbour resides the world-famous Sydney Opera House. Designed by a Danish architect named J&oslashrn Utzon, this multipurpose performing arts auditorium host over 1,500 performances annually. This opera house was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973 and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2007. There are eight venues inside.

Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg 

A rather new concert hall, The Elbphilharmonie&nbspwas opened in January 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. This superlative building complex consists of three concert halls, a plaza, a luxury hotel a restaurant and 45 exclusive private apartments. The unique architecture of the concert halls with its elegant wooden panelling enables an extraordinary sound experience. The Great Hall can cater to almost 2100 guests at a time, whereas the small hall is designed for 550 guests.

The Colosseum, Rome

Also known as the &ldquoFlavian Amphitheatre&rdquo, The Colosseum&nbspis the main symbol of Rome. This 80 A.D. structure might not be functional nowadays, but in the olden times, this used to be a prime spot for Roman entertainment. The gladiatorial arena consisted of 50,000 seats and hosted events from exhibitions of exotic animals to execution of prisoners. The Colosseum had a canvas ceiling to protect people from the sun and all kinds of machinery and cages were kept beneath it. Every year, nearly 6 million tourists visit this place along with the famous Vatican City.

Teatro Bibiena, Mantua

Built in 1767 on the design plan of Antonio&nbspGalli Bibiena, this venue was created for arts and academia purposes. The interiors are dimly lit with ornate balconies arranged around curving walls. Teatro Bibiena is also called the scientific theatre as it used to host theatre productions and concerts as well as scientific discourses and conferences. &nbspWithin a few weeks of its inauguration, 13-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a memorable concert here

Palacio De Bellas Artes, Mexico City

Overwhelmingly vast, the Palacio De Bellas Artes (The Palace of Fine Arts) is an ancient building in the historic city of Mexico. The architecture is an amalgamation of several architectural styles, with an Art Nouveau dominant fa&ccedilade and Art Deco dominant interior. Apart from theatre, recitals, lectures and publisher&rsquos presentations take place in this venue. The building features murals that were executed by some of Mexico&rsquos finest artists, including Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Roberto Montenegro, and houses exhibition halls for sculpture and painting.