The Graz Opera was named "Opera House of the Year" in 2001. In 2015 it was one of the six finalists of the International Opera Awards in the category "Best Opera House ". Graz Opera was also nominated for the International Opera Awards 2018, this time in two categories: once as "Best Opera House" and once for the best complete recording of an opera on CD for the recording of Bohuslav Martinůs work "The Greek Passion". In addition, the productions of Graz Opera have been awarded the annual Austrian Music Theatre Prize several times. It has always been a springboard for great careers for many musicians.

Remarkable attributes for the Haus am Ring, which was built in 1899 according to plans by the architects Fellner and Helmer, who were active throughout Europe.

Since 1992, the steel sculpture "Lightsaber" by Hartmut Skerbisch has formed an exciting contrast to the neo-baroque building. In the human rights city of Graz, it is a symbol of openness and tolerance.

Today's opera house was once called Stadttheater and originally served not only for music. Thus it was opened on 16 September 1899 with Schiller's play "Wilhelm Tell".
At the request of the municipal council of Graz, the Viennese architectural office Fellner und Helmer, famous for its theatre buildings, designed the building in the style of the baroque master builder Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. (Although he was born in Graz, he did not build a single building here).

A bomb hit the building during the Second World War and caused the demolition of the original portico, which greatly simplified the façade. Inside, the representative staircase and the auditorium, which is furnished with boxes, rich stucco, some of which is set in gold, and Baroque ceiling paintings, remained intact. In the mid-eighties, a very sensitive extension of the opera house was carried out by Gunther Wawrik. A glass bridge now connects the stage area with the newly built scenery depot.

It is not only the 1,200 visitors who can be seated in the auditorium who are impressed by the performances. Of the great musicians who have worked at the Graz Opera House to date, the composer Robert Stolz (already theatre bandmaster at the age of 20) and the conductor Karl Böhm have achieved particular fame. Both were also born in Graz.

That Graz gains its special charm from the interplay of old and new is proven by the "lightsaber" next to the opera. It was created as part of the "steirischer herbst" festival in 1992. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati's opera "America" was performed at the opera house. The Graz artist Hartmut Skerbisch was inspired by the libretto, which is based on a text by Franz Kafka, to create this "Statue of Liberty" with sword and globe. The 54 m height corresponds to the model in New York.

Regular tour dates

Each time before the Sunday opera brunch at 9 am and on the first Saturday of each month at 5 pm. Individual appointments can also be arranged for groups of visitors: The combination of a short, max. 45-minute taster tour behind the scenes followed by a performance is particularly popular.

Tickets are available at the Ticketzentrum at Kaiser-Josef-Platz 10, phone 0316 8000, mail tickets@ticketzentrum.at and also on site, in the foyer of the Graz Opera House.

Yhteystiedot

Lisätiedot:
http://www.oper-graz.com/

Tiedustelu:
presse@oper-graz.com