Opera Lesna

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Sopot’s Forest Opera is one of the most famous cultural places in Poland. It’s well known to almost every Pole and many foreigners. It is a place visited by the most famous artists from around the world. Situated in the woods, Forest Opera stands out among other tourist attractions thanks to its stunning setting and incredible acoustics. It was first built in 1909. In the twenties Wagner Festival was regularly held there and made the Opera perceived as ‘the second Bayreuth’. With its 4 hectares surface it can seat 4,500 people. Its exceptionally big scene of 50 meters in length and 536 square meters in area can seat/accommodate more than 100-member orchestra.

Each year The Sopot Festival takes place at the Forest Opera. Since the 60s, it has been a song contest organised by the Ministry of Culture and Art in cooperation with the Polish Artistic Agency ‘PAGART’. It’s almost impossible to find artists from that time who haven’t performed here. It was the most prestigious music event in the Eastern Europe, transmitted to the eastern block countries via Polish television. In the year 1994 Polish Television Public Company became the producer of the festival. It has been estimated that the festival is watched by millions of viewers worldwide, being always broadcast live.

source: http://www.sopot.net/atrakcje/operalesna.htm