Opernhaus Düsseldorf
Encyclopedia
Opernhaus Düsseldorf is located in Düsseldorf
, Germany and is one of two opera houses where performances are given by the Deutsche Oper am Rhein
. The other is the Theater Duisburg
in Duisburg
. The connection between the two cities’ opera houses existed between 1887 and 1920, and was not re-established until 1955 with the creation of the Deutsche Oper.
The original opernhaus was constructed between 1873 and 1875 as the City Theatre from a design by Ernst Giese (1832-1903). By its inauguration day, 29 November 1875, it was only partially completed due to cost overruns, but it continued to the operated by the city authorities. By 1891 an electric lighting system had been installed.
The auditorium contained a parquet level, 2 levels of seating plus a gallery, providing a total of 1,260 seats.
By 1921 the city had transferred the ownership of the theatre to the opera company and, in 1925, it was renamed as the Operhaus to distinguish it from another theatre then presenting operettas. After bombs in January and November 1943 during the Second World War destroyed much of the auditorium, some performances did proceed for several months in 1944, but in an auditorium reduced to 1,000 seats. By September 1944 all theatres were closed, and regular performances did not begin again until October 1945 with Bizet's Carmen
.
In the post-war years major renovations began in 1954 to improve the temporary wartime repairs. Between 1954 and its reopening on 22 April 1956, the house was restored and inaugurated with a performance of Beethoven's Fidelio
. The house now seated 1,342 people.
Also during this time the link between Düsseldorf and Duisburg was re-created in the form of a joint company, the German Opera on the Rhine.
Later in 1956, on 29 September, the company's premiere production of Richard Strauss
’ Electra
was given in Düsseldorf and, on 30 September, Verdi's Falstaff
was presented in Duisburg.
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Germany and is one of two opera houses where performances are given by the Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Deutsche Oper am Rhein
The Deutsche Oper am Rhein is an opera company based in Düsseldorf and Duisburg. The opera also has an associated classical ballet company....
. The other is the Theater Duisburg
Theater Duisburg
Theater Duisburg ' is located in Duisburg, Germany and is one of two opera houses where performances are given by the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. The other is the Opernhaus Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf....
in Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
. The connection between the two cities’ opera houses existed between 1887 and 1920, and was not re-established until 1955 with the creation of the Deutsche Oper.
The original opernhaus was constructed between 1873 and 1875 as the City Theatre from a design by Ernst Giese (1832-1903). By its inauguration day, 29 November 1875, it was only partially completed due to cost overruns, but it continued to the operated by the city authorities. By 1891 an electric lighting system had been installed.
The auditorium contained a parquet level, 2 levels of seating plus a gallery, providing a total of 1,260 seats.
By 1921 the city had transferred the ownership of the theatre to the opera company and, in 1925, it was renamed as the Operhaus to distinguish it from another theatre then presenting operettas. After bombs in January and November 1943 during the Second World War destroyed much of the auditorium, some performances did proceed for several months in 1944, but in an auditorium reduced to 1,000 seats. By September 1944 all theatres were closed, and regular performances did not begin again until October 1945 with Bizet's Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
.
In the post-war years major renovations began in 1954 to improve the temporary wartime repairs. Between 1954 and its reopening on 22 April 1956, the house was restored and inaugurated with a performance of Beethoven's Fidelio
Fidelio
Fidelio is a German opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto is by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly which had been used for the 1798 opera Léonore, ou L’amour conjugal by Pierre Gaveaux, and for the 1804 opera Leonora...
. The house now seated 1,342 people.
Also during this time the link between Düsseldorf and Duisburg was re-created in the form of a joint company, the German Opera on the Rhine.
Later in 1956, on 29 September, the company's premiere production of Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
’ Electra
Elektra (opera)
Elektra is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss, to a German-language libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, which he adapted from his 1903 drama Elektra. The opera was the first of many collaborations between Strauss and Hofmannsthal...
was given in Düsseldorf and, on 30 September, Verdi's Falstaff
Falstaff (opera)
Falstaff is an operatic commedia lirica in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare's plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV. It was Verdi's last opera, written in the composer's ninth decade, and only the second of his 26 operas to be a comedy...
was presented in Duisburg.