When opera comes to the streets: Discover KomshiLOOK

How can opera bring a neighborhood to life and bring its residents together? Check out the third episode of our series “Stories from the European Award.” Featuring past winners of the Art Explora European Award — Académie des beaux-arts —this series explores how their projects take on a new dimension thanks to the Award.

This new episode takes us to Skopje, in North Macedonia, to discover KomshiLOOK. With “Traviata in Three Acts,” the project offers a reinterpretation of Verdi’s opera set in the heart of one of the city’s neighborhoods. For the duration of the performance, the opera leaves the theater and takes over everyday spaces. Balconies, windows, and building courtyards become the backdrop for the performance. Singers, musicians, dancers, and residents come together with a shared desire: to bring art to life right on their doorstep.

The stories shared by the teams and participants take us right to the heart of this adventure. They describe a project where generations and neighbors come together, and where opera becomes a way to share a common emotion and rediscover one’s neighborhood.

The neighborhood is thus transformed into an open-air stage where everyone can find their place. Here, you can follow the performance from courtyard to courtyard, listen to it from your window, or take part in it. Above all, you discover the joy of experiencing opera together, right in your own neighborhood.

As the winner of the 2025 Audience Choice Award at the “ Award ,” KomshiLOOK was able to bring opera to life in the heart of Skopje thanks to your votes. Take a look at these photos to see how support from the “ Award ” is helping the project grow and reach new audiences. This initiative turns culture into a space for sharing that’s right in the heart of the community.