The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie is an opera house in central Brussels, Belgium. The National Opera of Belgium, a federal institution, takes the name of this theatre in which it is housed—La Monnaie in French or De Munt in Dutch—referring both to the building as well as the opera company. As Belgium's leading opera house, it is one of the few cultural institutions to receive financial support from the Federal Government of Belgium. Other opera houses in Belgium, such as the Vlaamse Opera and the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, are funded by regional governments.
The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie seen from the Place de la Monnaie/Muntplein
The first Theatre of La Monnaie (then spelled La Monnoye), c. 1700
Painting of the second Theatre of La Monnaie, c. 1825–1855
Contemporary illustration of the 1855 fire at La Monnaie, published in L'Illustration
An opera house is a theater building used for performances of opera. Like many theaters, it usually includes a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, backstage facilities for costumes and building sets, as well as offices for the institution's administration.
Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, the world's oldest working opera house.
The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most recognisable opera houses and landmarks.
Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole, built by benefactor Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de Belle-Isle during the 18th century; it is the oldest opera house working in France.
The Estates Theatre in Prague (Czech Republic) is the only theatre left standing where Mozart performed.