The Vienna State Opera is an opera house in the first district of Vienna with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. The building was the first major building on the Vienna Ringstraße commissioned by the Viennese "city expansion fund". The structure of the opera house was planned by August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll.
The construction began in 1861 in the Neo-Renaissance style. On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sissi). Wiener Staatsoper was originally called the Vienna Court Opera (Wiener Hofoper). In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Republic of Austria, it was renamed to the Vienna State Opera.
The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played. In 1945, towards the end of World War II, the opera house was devastated during a bombing. The auditorium and stage were, however, destroyed by flames as well as almost the entire decor and props for more than 120 operas with around 150,000 costumes. On May 1, 1945 the State Opera was housed at the Wiener Volksoper and opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. October 6, 1945, the hastily restored Theaters an der Wien reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in these two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt.
On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a performance of Beethoven’s FIDELIO, under the conduction of Karl Böhm and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by the television station ORF ("Austrian Broadcasting"). The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.
The Opera House
Looking at the building from the Opernring (part of the Ring boulevard), the façade in Renaissance style is a part from the original 1869 building. The two representations of riders over the main façade of the loggia were created by Ernst Julius Hähnel and represent two flying horses, illustrating Harmony and the muse of poetry (Erato). Also by Hähnel are the five bronze statues which stand on pedestals inside the arched loggia arcade.
The Auditorium
The auditorium had to be completely rebuilt after the Second World War. The Austrian Federal Chancellor made the decision in 1946 to have a functioning opera house again by 1949. An architectural competition was announced, which was won by a Professor at the technical college, Erich Boltenstern. He decided on a design similar to the original with some modernization.
Due to safety regulations, from the original capacity of the auditorium, which was 2,881 places, only 2,282 places remained (of which 1,709 are sitting, 567 are standing, 4 are wheelchair, and 4 are accompanying places). The traditional red-gold colors of the auditorium were maintained, but the sumptuous interior was replaced by a classic design. Paintings, reliefs, and columns no longer decorate the auditorium and the large center chandelier was replaced by a lighting wreath made from crystal. This lighting fixture weighs 3,000 kilograms and contains 1,100 light bulbs. The orchestra pit is 123 square meters and can hold around 110 musicians. It is fitted with an adjustable floor so that the height can be varied. The purpose of this is to achieve acoustical effects and to make possible the use of the front stage when fewer musicians are needed in the orchestra pit. From 1991 to 1994, the Wiener Staatsoper was substantially refurbished again.
The Vienna State Opera is closely linked to the Vienna Philharmonic (Wiener Philharmoniker), which is one of the best Orchestras in the world. The members of this orchestra are chosen from the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Each musician has to prove his or her capability for a minimum of three years playing for the Opera and Ballet. Once this is achieved, the musician can then ask the corresponding board to consider an application for a position in the Vienna Philharmonic. Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. Approximately 50 operas and 20 ballets are offered in the repertoire every season, which runs from 1 September to 30 June. It is quite common to find a different opera being produced each day of a week. It is not, however, the number which is important (although it is not equaled by any other opera house in the world) rather the variety offered by this House and all at the highest levels of artistry. A great number of world stars have come from among the members of the Wiener Staatsoper ensemble.
The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and recruited a stage designer who replaced the lavish historical stage decors with sparse stage scenery corresponding to modernistic Art Nouveau tastes. Mahler also introduced the practice of dimming the lighting in the theater during performances, which was initially not appreciated by the audience. However, Mahler's reforms were maintained by his successors.
Opera ball
For many decades, the opera house has been the venue of the Vienna Opera Ball (Wiener Opernball). It is an internationally renowned event, which takes place annually on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday (a religious holiday). Those in attendance often include visitors from around the world, especially prominent names in business and politics. The opera ball receives media coverage from a range of outlets.
Each year, almost overnight, the auditorium of the Vienna State Opera is turned into a large ballroom. On the eve of the event, the rows of seats are removed from the stalls, and a new floor, level with the stage is built. Together with the New Year Concert, the Opera Ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season. The dress code is evening dress: white tie and tails for men; usually white floor-length gowns for women.The Opera Ball was first held in 1935, but was suspended during World War II. It was revived after the war; it has been held annually ever since, with the exception of 1991, when it was cancelled due to the Persian Gulf War.
Text Sources:
wikipedia.org/.../Vienna_State_Opera
wiener-staatsoper.at
wien-vienna.com
