Forest Opera amphitheatre, covered by a roof and situated in a picturesque forest, is considered as one of the most beautiful ones and having one of the best acoustics. The Forest Opera was built in 1909. In the 1920s Wagnerian Festivals regularly took place here, which made the Opera known as the second Bayreuth. The venue covers the area of 4 hectares and has an audience for 4500 seats and an orchestra pit for 110 musicians. The stage is 50 metres wide and covers an area of 536 m². For the 35 years of the festival's history its name, rules and organisers changed. In the 1960s and the early 70s the festival was a typical song contest organised by the Ministry of Culture and Art in co-operation with the Polish Artistic Agency PAGART. Its participants were performers famous and popular in Europe such as: Karel Gott (former Czechoslovakia), Frida Boccara (Monaco), Henri Dés (Switzerland), Izabelle Aubret (France), Salomé (Spain) and others.

In the middle of the 70s these same organisers, now together with the Committee for the Radio and Television, organised the Intervision Festival in Sopot. It was the most prestigious musical and song event in Eastern Europe. Sopot become the place of success for such stars coming from the Eastern block as: Helena Vondračkowa, Jiři Korn, Frank Schäbel, Ałła Pugaczova, Hana Zagorowa, Maryla Rodowicz.

Among the renowned artists from the 70s and 80s who performed in the Forest Opera were: Charles Aznavour, Shirley Bassey, Boby Solo, The Temptations, Boney M, Johnny Cash, Kim Wilde, Jose Feliciano, Alison Moyet, Marillion, Paul Young.

In the past few years the following stars have performed at Sopot Festivals:: Chuck Berry, Vanessa Mae, Annie Lennox (1995); The Kelly Family, Vaya Con Dios, Deep Forest, La Bouche (1996); Khadja Nin, Secret Garden, Boyz II Men (1997); The Corrs, ERA, Ace of Base, Tanita Tikaram, Chris Rea (1998).

In 1994 Telewizja Polska S.A. became the sole producer of the festival. The festival concerts have become superb television shows broadcast live on Cannel One of TVP, shows watched by approximately 12 million viewers.

Sopot Forest Opera
ul. Stanislawa Moniuszki 12
tel. 551 18 22