Grand Opera, Shanghai
(c) Snohetta

Set along the Huangpu River, the Shanghai Grand Opera House was officially opened this weekend. The 146,786-square-metre Opera House will accommodate a broad spectrum of performances, from traditional opera and classical music to experimental productions conceived for new and diverse audiences. With three auditoriums and a total seating capacity of 4,200, it operates as a fully equipped resident opera house, bringing performance, rehearsal, production, education, exhibition, and hospitality together under one roof.

It waqs designed by Snøhetta from Oslo. Following Snøhetta’s winning proposal in the 2016 international competition, Snøhetta, East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), Theatre Projects, and Nagata Acoustics were formally commissioned in 2019 as a global consortium of experts to deliver the Shanghai Grand Opera House from concept to completion.

Caracteristically, the roof of the building becomes a stage, an observation deck, and a gathering place accessible throughout the year, strengthening a sense of shared ownership. A spiraling staircase connects the ground and roof, framing views towards the river and skyline turning movement itself into a defining part of the public experience.

At the heart of the Opera House is the 2,000-seat main auditorium, called Harmony Hall. Arranged across five levels, including stalls, parterre, and three balconies, the auditorium is designed to minimize sightline distances to the stage.

The second auditorium Soar Theatre accommodates 1,200 seats and offers a more intimate setting for smaller-scale production. It is particularly suited to baroque and classical opera, operetta, regional production, and theatre.

The 1,000-seat third auditorium Open Stage supports experimental and flexible performance formats through adaptable stage and seating configurations. It can host traditional and non-traditional production while offering panoramic views towards the surrounding park and rooftop.