Lunenburg Opera House
| Address | 290 Lincoln Street Lunenburg, Nova Scotia B0J 2C0 Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°22′37.4″N 64°18′32.9″W / 44.377056°N 64.309139°W |
| Built | 20 November 1907 |
| Opened | January 1909 |
| Former name(s) | Capitol Theatre (c. 1940 – c. 1970) |
| Seating type | Standing room |
| Website | lunenburgoperahouse.com |
The Lunenburg Opera House is a landmark located within the boundaries of the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. Conforming to the town’s architectural traditions, modeled after European music halls, the opera house was built from local timbers in 1907 by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Contractor Solomon Morash led the original project. The local newspapers foresaw “one of finest opera halls in the province.” (Progressive Enterprise, 20 November 1907)
The ingenuity of Lunenburg’s shipbuilders and craftsmen who built the opera house is evidenced by the architectural features that enhance both the acoustics and aesthetics of the building. The floor joists are laminate beams that have been steamed to curve in a semicircle facing the direction of the stage, giving support to the auditorium seating and enhancing the acoustics of the theatre. The joists mimic the unseen ribbing and framework that might be found beneath the facade of a guitar or violin or inside the hull of a wooden ship.
The Lunenburg Opera House was used as a venue for vaudeville, music and touring productions. In the 1940s the opera house was converted into a movie house and was renamed the Capitol Theatre. In the 1970s the building was purchased privately and in the years to follow, the opera house was intermittently used as a performing arts venue.
The 1990s and early 2000s saw little activity, with the building sitting mostly vacant, except for the upper floor which was uused as a music recording studio. Many local and travelling bands recorded under James Shaw of Redfish Audio in the Lunenburg Opera House until the company moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Full restoration of the Lunenburg Opera House began in 2006.
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