World amphitheaters and outdoor performances
Music connoisseurs say it is mauvais ton to listen to a symphony orchestra or an opera in the open air. The inhabitants of ancient Greece could not resist the temptation to divert their ears to the ancient amphitheater. Today, performances under the stars or on the lawns of parks are becoming more and more popular, complete with wine and the freshest baguette and cheese.
Theater in Epidaurus (Greece)
The theater was built in the 4th century B.C. In ancient times it was used to entertain the nobility and the clergy, and it was believed that the theater had beneficial effects on the physical and mental health of people. For a long time nobody knew about the amphitheater – it was excavated by archaeologist Panagis Kavadias only at the turn of XIX-XX centuries. In 1928 the first production after the excavations, a tragedy by Sophocles “Electra” was staged there, and since 1955 the Amphitheatre in Epidaurus became a festival with Greek and foreign actors. The famous Greek actress Maria Callas sang here.
The best-preserved ancient theater in Greece is not only incredibly beautiful, but it also has stunning acoustics.
Opera festival on a floating stage (Bregenz, Austria)
Every summer thousands of people from all over the world flock to the small Austrian town of Bregenz for the opera festival, which centers around a floating stage. Bregenz festival takes place since 1946, but in recent years it has become extremely popular. Its success is due to the stage in the middle of the waters of Lake Constance. The unusual stage offers theater directors new opportunities, and so the productions in Bregenz are famous for their scenic designs and the most unpredictable sets. An open-air auditorium with a capacity of 7,000 people is the ideal place to see all this beauty at once. Apart from the main – floating – stage, there are other stages, which allows the festival to hold about a hundred events during a month. Check out the festival program at www.bregenzerfestspiele.com.
In addition to the performances there is a lot to see in Bregenz. In the Upper Town it is worth paying attention to the ancient buildings XIII-XVI centuries, the tower of St. Martin, the symbol of Bregenz, Town Hall in 1662 and the Gothic Church of St. Gall, built, however, already in the XVIII century.
Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, USA)
Los Angeles, the show business capital of the world, simply must have the largest amphitheater in the United States. Rock stars perform in the Hollywood Bowl, it often hosts theatrical productions – opera, ballet, symphonic concerts, in particular the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra play. Sometimes concerts are accompanied by fireworks for special effect.
You’ll find Fred Astaire and Rudolph Nureyev dancing, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Andrea Boccelli and Placido Domingo, Cher and Elton John, the Beatles and the Doors, Arthur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz and many, many others singing. For a poster and to purchase tickets, visit www.hollywoodbowl.com. When you go to the evening concert, bring a sweater – nights in California can be chilly even in the summer, and take something to eat: traditionally, the audience has a picnic before the concert.
The Baths of Caracalla (Rome, Italy)
There are quite a few ancient baths preserved in Rome, but the Thermae of Caracalla is the most famous. Once it was a kind of spa where people came not only to steam, bathe, swim in the pool and do sports, but also to communicate with friends, discuss the latest news and even to meet lovers. In the social life of ancient Rome, the Thermae played a huge role. Today the Thermae of Caracalla attract lovers of ancient ruins and music lovers – against the natural scenery of ancient ruins and under the southern Italian sky the familiar works look very different.
In 1990 it was in the Thermae of Caracalla that a concert of the Three Tenors – Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras – took place. To find out what’s going on at the Caracalla Thermae, visit the Roman Opera’s website: www.operaroma.it.
Waldbühne (Berlin, Germany)
The Forest Open-air Theatre, which seats 22,000 people, usually hosts rock musicians, but once a year they give way to classical performers: the famous Berlin Philharmonic plays its season finale on the popular rock stage, aided by opera stars Plácido Domingo, René Fleming, Anna Netrebko and others. Listeners sit on the stairs of the amphitheater or on the grass, and the concert traditionally ends with Paul Linke’s march “In the Air of Berlin,” the unofficial anthem of the German capital. In a united impulse, thousands of people light the Bengal lights.
However, in the history of the Waldbühne was not only music, but also sports. The Forest Theater was originally built as a sports facility for the 1936 Olympics and was used as a venue for gymnastics competitions. Then there were movies, boxing matches, and then rock concerts. During the performance of the Rolling Stones on 15 September 1965, fans literally demolished the Waldbühne, and the stage was not reconstructed until seven years later.
Nebworth House (Hertfordshire, UK)
Nebworth House is one of Britain’s oldest residential castles and one of its most prestigious open-air concert venues. It’s been in the hands of the old Leighton family for over 500 years, but today the doors are open to those who aren’t part of the British aristocracy. You can visit the main house and gardens at Nebworth House, but the main thing many people come here for is the concerts of star rock and pop performers, which are held every weekend in the summer. It’s just more proof that Britain honors tradition while keeping up with, and sometimes ahead of, the times.
Even if you don’t like rock music and prefer a quieter pastime, you’ll still enjoy Nebworth House’s steeped history and its Neo-Gothic image, looking as if you’ve read an English novel or a painting by an English master. Nebworth House has a beautiful garden, a dinosaur theme park and a children’s railroad.
Arena di Verona (Rome, Italy)
The Roman amphitheater was built in Verona around the year 30 for gladiatorial fights. An earthquake in 1117 almost completely destroyed the outer ring of the amphitheater and the stones from its walls were used as building material for other buildings. Centuries later the willing quenched their need for spectacle here. Today it is the most famous open-air opera house and a perfectly preserved ancient amphitheatre, second in size only to the Colosseum in Rome.
Renowned for its incredible acoustics, the Arena di Verona was reopened in 1913, when the entire world was preparing to celebrate the centenary of Giuseppe Verdi’s birth – an unusual venue was needed to stage his opera Aida. In 1947, Maria Callas performed here. Many opera stars, including Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Tebaldi, have performed under the Verona sky.
From June to September the Arena di Verona hosts opera productions and concerts by international stars. The summer music festival is enormously popular, so buy your tickets in advance. You can do so at www.arena.it.
Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Dubrovnik, Croatia)
In summer, Dubrovnik becomes an open-air concert venue – a summer festival is held in the city, and the scenery for concerts, theatrical performances, operas and ballets are the historic buildings of the Old Town – the Cathedral, St. Vlasija Cathedral and the 15th century Knežev Palace. The cultural program is usually designed for evening, while during the day you can sunbathe on the Adriatic and explore the sites. The starry sky, the light breeze from the sea, the majestic works of ancient masters perfectly complement the impression of the divine sounds of music. The festival has been held since 1950 and historically emerged as a cultural bridge between Western and Eastern Europe, which were on opposite sides of the barricades after World War II. Until now European culture is one of the main focuses of the festival. Check www.dubrovnikfestival.hr for dates.
Meredith Amphitheater (Australia)
In December, when it’s winter in the northern hemisphere, Australia is in the height of summer and time for the massive three-day Meredith Music Festival. It takes place at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, an open-air theater located on a private farm in the small town of Meredith near Melbourne, Australia’s Capital of Culture.
The city hosts a huge number of events, and Melbourne ranks first in the country for the number of theaters. The National Ballet of Australia and Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra are based here so if you’re not interested in rock and pop at the Meredith Festival you’ll still find music to suit your tastes.
The festival has been running since 1991 and is extremely popular. It’s not easy to get in: some tickets are sold by lottery on a subscription basis, others are sold in Melbourne record stores, and only what’s left goes on public sale online.