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.

Early years

Frederick II commissioned the original building on the site and construction work began in July 1741 with what was designed to be the first part of a "Forum Fredericianum". Although not entirely completed, the Court Opera (Hofoper) was inaugurated with a performance of Carl Heinrich Graun's Cleopatra e Cesare on December 7, 1742. This event marked the beginning of the successful, 250 year old cooperation between the Staatsoper and the Staatskapelle Berlin, the state orchestra, whose roots trace back to the 16th century.

Related Topics:
Frederick II - December 7 - 1742 - Staatskapelle Berlin

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In 1842, Gottfried Wilhelm Taubert instituted the tradition of regular symphonic concerts. In the same year, Giacomo Meyerbeer succeeded Gaspare Spontini as General Music Director. Felix Mendelssohn also conducted symphonic concerts for a year.

Related Topics:
Giacomo Meyerbeer - Gaspare Spontini - Felix Mendelssohn

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On August 18, 1843 the Linden Opera was destroyed by fire. A new opera building, with Carl Friedrich Langhans as architect, was inaugurated the following fall by a performance of Meyerbeer's Ein Feldlager in Schlesien.

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In 1821, the Berlin Opera gave the premiere of Weber's Der Freischütz. In 1849, it premiered Otto Nicolai's Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, conducted by the composer himself.

Related Topics:
Der Freischütz - Otto Nicolai - Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor

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