Wiener Staatsoper
Vienna
The Wiener Staatsoper is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It opened in 1869 as the Court Opera and was the first great building on the Ringstraße.
The first palace on the Ring
In 1860 a competition was opened for the new opera house, on the site of the old walls. The foundation stone was laid in 1863, and the Opera opened in May 1869.
The two architects died in 1868. Others completed the building.
Inside and out
On the façade there is a loggia with paintings by Moritz von Schwind and bronze statues by Ernst Julius Hähnel. On the grand staircase, seven statues represent the arts.
Destruction and return
In 1945 a bomb set the stage and the auditorium on fire. Until the rebuilding was finished, the Opera performed in other theatres in the city.
In 1955 the rebuilt house reopened. Since then every season brings new productions, and every winter the famous ball.
A night of dancing
Once a year, at Carnival time, the theatre becomes a huge ballroom for thousands of people. It is one of the most famous events in the city.
The idea is not new. The 1860 competition already said the theatre should also be used for balls. The first one, called “Hofopern-Soirée”, was held on 11 December 1877.
