My World 5 - Vienna State Opera

by - 17.11.08

oper2
14 Nov 08

The Vienna State Opera was the first major building on the Wiener Ringstraße commissioned by the controversial Viennese "city expansion fund". Work commenced on the building in 1861 and was completed in 1869, following plans drawn up by architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll, who lived together in the 6. Bezirk. It was built in the Neo-Renaissance style. This was the first opera built in Vienna.

The Vienna State Opera is closely linked to the Vienna Philharmonic, which is an incorporated society of its own, but whose members are recruited from the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.

The Wiener Staatsoper is one of the busiest opera houses in the world producing 50 to 60 operas per year in approximately 200 performances. It is quite common to find a different opera being produced each day of a week. As such, the Staatsoper employs over 1000 people. As of 2008, the annual operating budget of the Staatsoper was 100 million Euros with slightly more than 50% coming in the form of a state subsidy.
You'd see employees dressed as Mozart or Strauß selling tickets near the area.

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The opera company operates a repertoire system: more than 50 productions are staged every year, and there is a performance nearly every day for ten months of the year. The company is currently headed by the State Opera's Musical Director Seiji Ozawa.

The Vienna State Opera is particularly open to children: under Holender's direction (he has three children of his own), the opera house has become well-known for its children's productions, which are performed in a tent on the roof of the Staatsoper. Recent examples include Peter Pan, Das Traumfresserchen (The Dream-Gobbler), Der 35. Mai (May 35th), Aladdin and Bastien and Bastienne. In addition to this, there is a production of The Magic Flute every year for 9- and 10-year-olds, decorated like the Opernball.


The opera house also has an opera school for boys and girls between the ages of eight and fourteen, which takes place in the afternoons, around normal schooling. The children are taught in a manner appropriate to their continuing in a singing career; the opera recruits for children's roles from this opera school.




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27 comments

  1. I had no idea so many productions.

    The photos are beautiful. The lights in the first one make it look magical.

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  2. What a beautiful building lit up at night!

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  3. I can only imagine the glamour and the majesty of that structure inside. I wonder if tickets come easy and/or are they reasonably priced?

    Is it open for public during the time when there is no show?

    Beautiful shots G.

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  4. How beautiful! I've seen pictures of this before, but none this lovely! and thanks for all the interesting information, too.

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  5. Wonderful. These old buildings are great. I am glad they light them up in the night.

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  6. Fantastic architecture. It sure has stood the test of time.

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  7. Looks like the kind of building I would imagine Vienna to have. Now if you could transport me back to the late 19th/early 20th century, I would love to walk around and see all the famous people, and hear the great musicians.

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  8. Beautiful Vienna Opera building. Great your World.

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  9. I love the night shots of those spectacular buildings. Well done. Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers!
    Regina In Pictures

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  10. I've heard about the Vienna Sate Opera and it's great learning more from your post as well as seeing the beautiful photographs.

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  11. What an interesting post! I enjoyed reading about the opera houses. You live in quite an interesting part of the world!

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  12. Your post is a real treat! Anyone who has heard Georg Kreisler on the subject, must surely be enthralled by that lovely Opera House.

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  13. What a beautfiul building for such beautiful music.
    Excellent choice and images and write up.

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  14. That's very impressive building. I'm glad it's home to a grand art form (opera) that is suited to its style and beauty.

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  15. ABsolutely beautiful photos of the Opera House! Thanks for sharing! :D

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  16. Quite lovely indeed. I like the added element of lens flair from that light.

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  17. Vienna is indeed beautiful town - thank you for these lovely picture and thank you for your visit.

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  18. I had no idea about all this information on the Vienna State Opera. I was especially surprised how children are included! Brilliant photos too!

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  19. The building is magnificent! And your photos are lovely. My husband is going to turn green with envy about all those performances. Do you watch?

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  20. Lovely pictures, I would like to explore that building. Das Traumfresserchen is a lovely story, I bet it was a huge success.

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  21. absolutely stunning architecture. vienna is on my travel plans in the future.
    thanks for sharing.

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  22. What a beautiful building and so much history too

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  23. They are great photos of a grand building.

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  24. simply beautiful! you're really bringing us somewhere we might not have seen if we just play PSP.

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  25. I love the first photo. It looks like HDR photo to me.

    ;)

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