The Paradiso, Amsterdam
The Paradiso is a temple of pop music in the Netherlands, housed in a neo-Romanesque church built at the end of the 19th century. When the Paradiso is not hosting concerts, students and other party-goers gather in the place, which is then transformed into a club. Artists such as Pink Floyd and Captain Beefheart have performed there.
Madison Square Garden, New York
With a capacity of 20,000 seats, it is a well-known venue for New Yorkers, as it is the home of two local sports teams - the New York Knicks (basketball) and the New York Rangers (ice hockey). It's also a concert venue, having seen the likes of Frank Sinatra, the Stones, David Bowie and more recently the Spice Girls, U2 and Beyonce. The venue we know today was inaugurated in 1968 in Manhattan, and has undergone many transformations and renovations since then.
The Olympia, in Paris
The oldest music hall still in operation in Paris was founded by the same man who co-created the Moulin Rouge. In its early days, the hall, inaugurated in 1893, saw dancers and music hall shows, as well as fairground attractions, before being transformed into a cinema between the two world wars. Revived by Bruno Coquatrix in 1954, the theatre has seen the biggest names in French music - Dalida, Johnny Hallyday, Michèle Torr - and internationally renowned stars such as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and the heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
La Fenice, Venice
In Venice, there are the canals and their many gondolas... but also La Fenice, a majestic neo-classical opera house built at the end of the 18th century. Twice destroyed by fire, the Fenice theatre is a favourite with opera lovers with its gold balconies and bright colours.
Wembley Stadium, London
Just as famous as Big Ben or the Tower of London, Wembley Stadium is just as monumental as the city's other landmarks. The name originally refers to a building constructed for the 1924 British Imperial Exhibition, which also hosted the 1948 Olympics. The new stadium, opened in 2007, has a capacity of 90,000 - the largest in Europe after Barcelona's Camp Nou. Considered "the temple of football" by the Brazilian footballer Pele, Wembley Stadium has also opened its doors to many artists.
The Moulin Rouge, Paris
At the foot of the Butte-Montmartre is the most emblematic monument of Parisian nightlife, a cabaret that opened its doors in 1889, at the height of the music hall boom. At the helm was a duo formed by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, who nicknamed their establishment "the first Palais des Femmes", with the intention of making it a temple of music and dance. More than a century later, the dancers continue to perform in their feather and glitter costumes, in acts as extravagant as they are exceptional.
⋙ Is there really a lake under the Opéra Garnier?
Sydney Opera House
With its three interlocking 'shells', it is one of the world's best-known architectural feats and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its shape, which can also be reminiscent of a sailing ship, was designed by the Dane Jørn Utzon and fits perfectly into the Sydney harbour setting. Apart from the numerous performances, notably of opera and theatre, it is an extremely popular centre for shows, with more than 8 million visitors a year.
The Bolshoi, Moscow
Just a few blocks from the Kremlin in Moscow, this building, built in the early 19th century, has been destroyed and rebuilt several times - the latest renovation was in 2011. Throughout its history, the venue has mainly hosted ballets, including the historic premiere of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake in 1877.
The Royal Opera House of Versailles
Conceived by Louis XIV, it was not until the reign of Louis XV that the Royal Opera was built at the end of the north wing of the Château de Versailles. Inaugurated in 1770 for the wedding of the Dauphin, the future Louis XVI, and theArchduchess Marie-Antoinette, the Opéra Royal continues to dazzle those who come to attend the operas, ballets and plays performed there, with its gold and faux-marbles.
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
This eccentric hotel, located on the famous Strip, houses one of the world's largest entertainment venues in the gambling capital of the world: the Colosseum - the name being yet another reference to the Roman theme that inspires all the décor. The stage was specially built for Celine Dion's show "A New Day", which was first performed in 2003. 4,148 people can attend the extraordinary shows that are performed in this extraordinary venue of over 20,000 square metres. In addition to Celine Dion, Cher, Rod Stewart and Elton John have graced the stage since its inception.
The National Theatre and National Concert Hall in Taipei
In the heart of Liberty Square, Taipei's National Theatre and its neighbouring National Concert Hall can be spotted from afar with their typical Chinese palace architecture. Opened in 1987, these two structures are major performance centres in Asia. These two buildings are commonly referred to as the NTCH - for National Theater and Concert Hall.
The Grand Theatre of Bordeaux
Recognisable by its twelve Corinthian columns, this work of art by the architect Victor Louis dates back to 1780 and has exceptional acoustics thanks to its wooden frame. Its chandelier, its dome and its staircase (which inspired Charles Garnier to design the staircase of the Paris Opera) are particularly worth seeing when you go to the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux to attend a performance.
The National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing
Often referred to as "the egg", this very modern building in the heart of the Chinese capital's historic district was designed by Frenchman Paul Andreu. Its titanium and iron dome gives it a two-tone appearance, reminiscent of the traditional symbol of yin and yang. The imposing building, surrounded by an artificial lake, houses a concert hall, an opera house and a theatre.
The Bellagio, Las Vegas
The Bellagio, in the hotel-casino of the same name, stands out from the other Las Vegas venues thanks to its aquatic stage, with a pool installed there especially for Cirque du Soleil's aquatic show 'O'. Above the heads of the spectators is an imposing dome, in the centre of which is an opening, a process that allows the artists to perform acts above the audience.
The Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon
Alternately an arms factory and ammunition depot during the First World War, a slaughterhouse and cattle market during the inter-war period, and a cultural venue since the end of the 1980s, the Halle Tony Garnier has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1975. This space is one of the places that make the reputation of Lyon, by hosting important concerts, events within the framework of the Lumière Festival, or even television programmes.
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