History
The Forest Opera was created in 1909 as a natural amphitheatre in the beech and pine woods on a moraine slope above Sopot. The idea came from the Sopot journalist Paul Walther-Schaeffer — fascinated by the open-air theatre at Bayreuth, he wanted to give Sopot its own "town opera". At first the stage and auditorium were simple wooden structures, with acoustics that were natural, thanks to the lie of the land.
From 1922 until the Second World War the Forest Opera hosted the Wagner Festival — annual performances of Richard Wagner's operas that drew music lovers from all over Germany. After the war the festival ended and the venue gradually came to be used for popular concerts.
The turning point came in 1961, when the first International Song Festival in Sopot (from 1977 the Sopot Festival) was held at the Forest Opera. Charles Aznavour, Whitney Houston, Eros Ramazzotti, Lara Fabian, Annie Lennox, Limp Bizkit and Goran Bregović have all performed here — along with every generation of Polish stage stars.
The Opera today
In 2009 the venue was completely rebuilt. The amphitheatre layout and the auditorium on the slope were kept, but a distinctive membrane roof was added (white PVC fabric on a steel frame), along with a fully modern stage, dressing rooms, technical infrastructure and seating — 5,000 places in all. Its acoustics are now reckoned among the best of any Polish amphitheatre.
The roof does more than keep the rain off — lit in colour in the evening it changes the whole atmosphere, and on a summer sunset it makes, with the woods around, one of the most spectacular sights in the town.
What happens here
- The Sopot Festival — successor to the Sopot Song Festival, in August, broadcast on television
- Top of the Top Sopot Festival — a format with international stars
- Pop, rock and jazz concerts — throughout the season (June to September)
- Opera performances — occasionally, more often in the past
- Corporate and charity events — out of season
How to get there
The Forest Opera lies about 1.5 km west of the Monciak, on the slope of Łysa Góra. The most pleasant way there is a walk through the North Park and along woodland paths (about 25 minutes from the railway station, waymarked). On concert days extra bus services run from Sopot and Gdynia. The car parks around the Opera are small and fill up quickly — better to leave the car in town.
How to get there and practical info
- Address
- ul. Moniuszki 12, Sopot
- Season
- May to September (most events in summer)
- Tickets
- From about 150 zł for concerts, 400 zł and up for top acts
- Capacity
- 5,000 seats
- From the station
- About 25 min on foot, about 5 min by taxi
- Parking
- Small; not recommended on event days — better by bus
When to go
Small local events and rehearsals — you can walk in on days without a concert (free).
Festivals, concerts and the full programme. Tickets sell out fast — buy well ahead.
The season ends, with occasional evening concerts. A walk round the empty amphitheatre has its magic.
Closed for performances. The woods around are open — lovely for a winter walk.
Other sights in Sopot
Straight-line distances from „The Forest Opera" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
Places from our list that have The Forest Opera within walking distance or a short drive.
