The Grand Opera House is one of the city's great signature buildings. Restored to its Victorian glory in 1980, it is a masterpiece in gilt and plush scarlet; the pièce de la résistance of this lavish interior being the elephants that support the boxes! (Pavarotti got his first break here.) The venue maintains its operatic traditions, with regular visits by some of the world's great opera companies. In recent years, the Royal Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet have both performed at this venue. Ticket prices vary per performance; check out the Website for details.