Egyptian Royal Opera House

Egyptian Royal Opera House
Interactive map of Egyptian Royal Opera House
LocationCairo, Egypt
OwnerCairo Opera House
Capacity1,200 people
TypeOpera house
Construction
Opened1 November 1869
Closed28 October 1971
Reopened10 October 1988
ArchitectPietro Avoscani
Website
www.cairoopera.org

The Egyptian Royal Opera House or Khedivial Opera House (Egyptian Arabic: دار الأوبرا الملكية المصرية / ALA-LC: Dār Awbirā al-Khudaywī) was an opera house in Cairo, Egypt, the oldest opera house in all of Africa and the Middle East. It was inaugurated on 1 November 1869 and it burned down on 28 October 1971, superseded by Cairo Opera House on 10 October 1988.

The opera house was built on the orders of the Khedive Ismail to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal. The Italian architect Pietro Avoscani (perhaps assisted by one Mario Rossi) designed the building. It seated approximately 850 people and was made mostly of wood. It was located between the districts of Azbakeya and Ismailyya in Egypt's capital city.