Vienna State Opera House
Majestically gracing the Ring Boulevard, the Vienna State Opera is indisputably one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. Built in 1869 to plans by architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll. The original State Opera House, a neo-romantic building severely criticised when it was built, was inaugurated on May 25, 1869 with Mozart's Don Giovanni.
During World War II, the stage was destroyed by Allied bombs and the building gutted by fire on March 12, 1945. The foyer, with frescoes by Moritz von Schwind, the main stairways, the vestibule and the tea room were spared. Almost the entire décor and props for more than 120 operas with around 150,000 costumes were destroyed. The State Opera was temporarily housed at the Theater an der Wien and at the Volksoper.The rebuilt theatre, seating more than 2200, reopened on November 5, 1955 with Beethoven's Fidelio with Karl Böhm conducting.
A peek behind the scenes of the Vienna State Opera, the world’s biggest repertory theater, reveals lots of things that are otherwise hidden from evening opera-goers. A tour provides lots of interesting information about the history, architecture and running of the Opera House.
