Berlin State Opera

Berlin State Opera (in German: Staatsoper Unter den Linden) is a prominent German opera company. Its permanent home is the Opera House on the Unter den Linden boulevard in Berlin.

20th century

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the Berlin opera attracted many illustrious conductors. including Felix von Weingartner, Karl Muck, Richard Strauss, and Leo Blech.

Related Topics:
Felix von Weingartner - Karl Muck - Richard Strauss - Leo Blech

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After the collapse of the German Empire in 1918, the Opera was renamed "Staatsoper unter den Linden" and the "Königliche Kapelle" became "Kapelle der Staatsoper".

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In the 1920s, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Erich Kleiber, Otto Klemperer, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Bruno Walter occupying the conductor's post. In 1925, Alban Berg's Wozzeck, was given its premiere in a production conducted by Erich Kleiber in the composer's presence.

Related Topics:
Wilhelm Furtwängler - Erich Kleiber - Otto Klemperer - Alexander von Zemlinsky - Bruno Walter - Alban Berg - Wozzeck

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After having undergone a extensive renovation, the Linden Opera reopened in April 1928 with a new production of The Magic Flute. In the same year, the famous Russian bass Feodor Chaliapin and Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with conductor Ernest Ansermet are guest performers. In 1930 Erich Kleiber conducted premiere of Darius Milhaud's Christoph Columbus.

Related Topics:
The Magic Flute - Russia - Feodor Chaliapin - Serge Diaghilev - Ballets Russes - Darius Milhaud

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However, in 1934, when symphonic pieces from Alban Berg's Lulu were performed by Kleiber, the National Socialists provoked a scandal and he was forced into exile.

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After Hitler's Nazi takeover, members of Jewish origin were dismissed from the ensemble. Many German musicians associated with the opera went into exile, including the conductors Otto Klemperer and Fritz Busch. During the Third Reich, Robert Heger, Johannes Schüler and Herbert von Karajan were the "Staatskapellmeister". In 1944, under Karajan's baton that the first stereo recording was made.

Related Topics:
Hitler's - Nazi - Jew - Otto Klemperer - Fritz Busch - Third Reich - Herbert von Karajan

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During World War II, the opera house was completely destroyed by bombing twice. The first reconstructions happened quickly, and the theatre was soon reopened with a performance of Wagners Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Related Topics:
World War II - Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

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