The Royal Opera House is unlike any other venue in Mumbai, or even in India. Built in 1911 and inaugurated by King George V, the hall served as the city’s cultural heart and soul, until it tragically shut down in the 90s because of a lack of clientele. But in 2016, the hall reopened following extensive restoration, and man, did they revive it to its former glory.When you come to the Opera House, you’re paying for the performance and the place. Normally, that’d come with a bit of a gimmicky feel, but here, it feels totally justified. The hall features the best elements of European Baroque architecture and old-school Indian detailing, so what you see is loads of Italian marble, massive Corinthian columns, and very sparkly crystal chandeliers (some were even donated by the Sassoon family from their very own mansion, which served as a community for the Baghdadi-Jewish community). The auditorium itself is opulent, featuring plush seating, royal boxes, and a ceiling shaped like a gramophone horn, paying homage to the great acoustics.
Today, the hall’s calendar’s jam packed with variety – it hosts classic Marathi and English plays, candlelit concerts by greats, unique storytelling events, comedy specials, and other kinds of live music gigs. If you’re coming, remember to dress up. It’s not the sort of place you’d want to be caught looking shabby at.