Lunenburg Opera House
Encyclopedia
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.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Conforming to the town’s architectural traditions, modeled after European music halls, the opera house
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
was built from local timbers in 1907 by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
. 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
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, music and touring productions. In the 1940s the opera house was converted into a movie house and was renamed the Capitol Theatre
Capitol Cinema/Theatre
There are a number of Capitol or Capital cinemas and theatres of note:-Australia:* Capitol Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria* Capitol Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales-Canada:* Capitol Cinema , Ottawa, Ontario...
. 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.