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Traveling to more than 40 opera houses spanning four centuries and four continents, photographer David Leventi uncovers the beauty of some of the world’s greatest opera houses.
All photographs by David Leventi

David Leventi | La Fenice, Venice, Italy, 2008

The spectacle of the opera lies in the costumes, the lavish set designs and, of course, the music. But this wasn’t always the case, says photographer David Leventi, who spent eight years shooting the interiors of more than 40 opera houses in almost 20 countries. “Throughout the whole history of the opera,” Leventi told Out Magazine, “People liked to be seen and seen. It was less about what was going on onstage and more about what was going on in the audience.” Adding to the attendees’ state of awe and ceremony, were these music halls’ resplendent interiors — a spectacle in their own right. Now, Leventi has published a visual catalogue of these grand cultural institutions in his new series Opera, which, more than presenting a mere typology of houses, also reveals the extent to which these ornate interiors stand as symbols of their countries’ wealth, grandeur and musical legacy. Here, Leventi shares five of his favorites, from the Kungliga Operan in Stockholm to the Palais Garnier in Paris.

David Leventi | Curtain, Kungliga Operan, Stockholm, Sweden, 2008

David Leventi | Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Bologna, Italy, 2010

David Leventi | Curtain, Palais Garnier, Paris, France, 2009

David Leventi | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, Great Britain, 2008

David Leventi | The Metropolitan Opera, New York, United States, 2008