Guangzhou Opera House

Introduction 

Located on Zhujiangxi Road in Zhujiang New Town of Tainhe District. Guangzhou Opera House covers an area of 42,000 square meters and it is one of China’s three biggest theaters with a capacity of 1800 people and 400 people in its multifunction hall used for operas, concerts and art performances. Its construction began in January 2005 and was finalized in May 2010 costing $202 million. The buildings of the opera were dynamically modeled in an omnidirectional format and in 3D with no concept of front, sides or back directions. 

It is Zaha Hadid’s, London based architect and the first female winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize most recent architectural realization. In collaboration with Sir. Harold Marshall a unique Australian acoustic designer who won the world top award - the Wallace Clement Sabine Medal. In 2014 the Guangzhou Opera House was rated as one of the 10 best opera houses around the world by the United States. The main building is made up of a freestanding concrete auditorium set up on audacious granite and glass clad steel frame. The exposed frame form giant spider like webs extending out in outrageous directions. There are numerous levels bringing out sight lines, canyons for free air circulation into the main atrium space, establishing a sense of connection and orientation within the opera house. Inside the Opera House everywhere you turn opens up to unexpected routes and the curves of the paths emulate a feeling of acceleration which propels you ahead.

Things to see and do on a visit 

Opera Hall

The larger pebble of the two pebble like structures houses the opera hall. The Opera Hall is home to the very latest acoustic technology for superior sound clarity and its contemporary interior draws inspiration from the form of river valleys transformed by erosion. The buildings take the form of a pair of asymmetric structures with what appears to form a dome and a curtain wall put together. The hall has the main stage, the rear stage and the left and right wings covering an area of 74 meters by 46 meters with a proscenium of 18 meters wide by 12 meters high.

The Experimental Theater

The Experimental Theater is housed in the smaller pebble and has a total of 443 seats with a movable audience seating and moveable stage to facilitate the specifications of the performances.

The Modern Gallery

The Guangzhou Opera House has a modern gallery located at the non-performance area of the opera house displaying artwork from famous artists from different parts of the world.