The Vienna Opera: the history of the famous theater

Венская опера - один из самых известных и the largest opera houses in the world, whose history begins in the mid-nineteenth century. Located in the center of Vienna, it was originally called the Vienna Court Opera and was renamed in 1920 with the appearance of the First Austrian Republic.

The building, built in the years 1861-1869Neoclassical style designed by architects Edward van der Nüll and August Sicard von Sicardsburg, was the first major building on Riegenstraße. Famous artists worked on interior decor, among them Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the box on the opera The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the lobby based on works by other composers. The Vienna Opera solemnly opened on May 25, 1869 with the work of Don Juan by Mozart. The presentation was attended by Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Amalie Yevgeny Elizaveta.

The opera house was not originally appreciated.by the public. First of all, it was located opposite the magnificent Henrichshof mansion (destroyed during the Second World War) and did not produce the required effect of monumentality. Secondly, the level of the ring road in front of the building was raised by one meter after the start of its construction, and it looked like a “settled box”.

Особого расцвета Венская опера достигла под the guidance of an outstanding composer and conductor Gustav Mahler. Under him, a new generation of world-famous vocalists grew up, such as Anna von Mildenburg and Selma Curs. Having become director of the theater in 1897, he changed the outdated scenery, attracted the talent and experience of remarkable artists (among them Alfred Roller) to form a new aesthetics of the scene corresponding to the modernist taste. Mahler introduced the practice of blackout lighting on stage during performances. All his reforms were saved by successors.

During the American bombings at the end of the SecondWorld War II, the building was badly damaged. After lengthy discussions, it was decided to restore it in its original style, and the renovated Vienna Opera was reopened in 1955 by the creation of Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Today in the theater are modernproductions, but they are never experimental. He is closely associated with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which is officially listed as the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Vienna Opera. It is one of the busiest opera houses in the world. 50-60 operas are staged every year, at least 200 performances are shown. The main repertoire of the Vienna Opera includes some pieces that are little known to the general public, such as Richard Strauss’s Cavalier of the Rose and Salome.

Tickets for performances are expensive.This is due to the large number of lodges. It should be borne in mind that there is practically no inclination in the stalls, so you can pay from 160 euros for a place somewhere in the eighth row, but you can see little of what happens on the stage. The acoustics are excellent, especially on the upper levels of the building. There are still standing places (more than 500) located directly behind the orchestra, but they are only available on the day of the performance, while tickets to the lodges and the stalls go on sale 30 days before each performance, and it is easiest to order them through the website, which owns the Vienna Opera.

The dress code itself is not respected, since more than half of the seats are occupied by tourists, a diverse audience, although it can be noted that people are dressed more elegantly in the boxes.