Landmarks

Forest Opera

An amphitheatre in the municipal forest of Sopot, opened in July 1909, still one of the largest open-air venues in Europe: 5,047 seated places, or 5,579 including the front sections. The stage is 19 m deep with an area of 430 m², and the orchestra pit holds a 120-piece orchestra. The idea came from Sopot mayor Max Woldmann and Paul Walther, kapellmeister of the Gdańsk municipal theatre.

From Wagner to the Sopot Festival

A Wagner festival modelled on Bayreuth started here in 1924, and in 1961 the International Song Festival moved to the Forest Opera, defining the sound of the Polish music scene for decades. Among the stars who performed under the pines was Johnny Cash, who played here with his family on 22 August 1987. The venue also has darker chapters: from 1939 to 1943 the amphitheatre served rallies of the Hitler Youth and the KdF organisation.

The opera after redevelopment

A thorough modernisation in 2009–2012 replaced the stage and auditorium infrastructure while preserving the wooded character of the venue. Today the calendar features Sopot Classic (since 2011), the Polsat SuperHit Festival (since 2015) and concerts by Poland's biggest artists. Since 1997 there has also been a 300-seat concert hall — home of the Polish Chamber Philharmonic.

Practical tips

The Forest Opera lies off al. Franciszka Mamuszka, on the edge of the Tricity Landscape Park, a fifteen-minute walk or so from the Bohaterów Monte Cassino promenade. Outside concert dates the venue is often closed to visitors — check the events calendar if you plan to visit without a ticket. Arrive early for concerts: access to the sections gets tight just before showtime, and the walk back to central Sopot after a performance can take a while.