Live music is magical – there’s no other way to describe it – but even the most visceral, moving or electric performance by your favourite artist takes on a whole new life if it’s performed in an equally dazzling venue.
That’s why has compiled a list of the most beautiful concert venues in the world, from stages and concert halls to opera houses and amphitheatres. Our list features landmark venues like the Sydney Opera House, Teatro alla Scala and Beijing’s National Centre for Performing Arts, but one historic arena has topped all of those to claim the crown.
The most beautiful live music venue this planet has to offer is Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The open-air slopes offer breathtaking views over the state’s 160 million sandstone formations, making it one of the most unique places to see live music on the planet.
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‘The arena can hold up to 9,500 people and has hosted everyone from Jimi Hendrix to deadmau5,’ says contributor India-Jayne Trainor. ‘It’s dwarfed on both sides by two dramatic 300ft monoliths made from red sandstone, which help magnify the acoustics from the main stage, where films, concerts and even fitness classes are held throughout the year’.
Other intriguing entries on this list include Dalhalla, a 6,000-capacity arena in Rättvik, Sweden, nestled in an eerie limestone quarry; The Caverns, a gig space in Tennessee in an ancient underground network of caves; and Musikverein, a gilded Vienna concert hall home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
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