Staatsoper Stuttgart

Staatsoper Stuttgart (Stuttgart State Opera) is a German opera company based in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Staatsorchester Stuttgart serves in its pit.

Staatsoper Stuttgart
Stuttgart State Opera
Former namesKönigliche Hofoper Stuttgart
AddressStuttgart, Baden-Württemberg
Germany
Coordinates
TypeOpera house
Capacity1404
Construction
Opened1912 (1912)
ArchitectMax Littmann
Website
www.oper-stuttgart.de

History

Performances of operas, ballet and plays in Stuttgart took place from the 17th century at the hall of Neues Lusthaus. The probably first opera production was in 1660 the singspiel Der Raub der Proserpina by Hofkapellmeister Samuel Capricornus.[1] Four years later, a permanent stage was established.[2] In 1750, the building was remodeled as Stuttgart's opera house, named Königliches Hoftheater (Roayal Court Theatre) in 1811. It burnt down in 1902, and opera was performed in a provisional Interimstheater.[3][4]

Today's opera house was built from 1909 to 1912 by architect Max Littmann from Munich, with two halls, Großes Haus and Kleines Haus. After the end of the monarchy in 1918, the theatres were named Württembergische Landestheater. The Kleines Haus, site of the world premiere of the first version of Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss, was destroyed in World War II.[5]

Staatsoper Stuttgart forms part of the Staatstheater Stuttgart, a three-branch theatre organisation for opera, play and Stuttgart Ballet. The house, which has been a listed building since 1924, currently has 1,404 seats and a per-season audience of approximately 250,000. An important centre for opera since the 17th century, Stuttgart has again become an important and influential centre since the war, particularly for contemporary works. Three operas by Carl Orff received their premieres there and the company has been associated with figures such as Wieland Wagner, Günther Rennert, Hans Werner Henze and Philip Glass.

Klaus Zehelein era (1991–2006)

During the era of Opera Intendant Klaus Zehelein, the company has won the Opera House of the Year award by the German magazine Opernwelt more often than any other company: in 1994 (the inaugural award), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and in 2006. Pamela Rosenberg was co-opera Intendant between 1991 and 2000, with Eytan Pessen acting as casting director from 2001 to 2006. Klaus Zehelein brought in directors Ruth Berghaus, Christof Nel, Hans Neuenfels, Peter Konwitschny and Jossi Wieler. He created the Junge Oper, dedicated to performing music theatre works for young audiences.[6] Numerous CD and DVD productions document Zehelein's interest in modern works and new staging concepts. Under Zehelein's direction the Stuttgart Opera was an ensemble-based opera company, with Catherine Naglestad, Tichina Vaughn, Eva-Maria Westbroek were members of his ensemble, Jonas Kaufmann a frequent guest artist. Music directors were Gabriele Ferro and Lothar Zagrosek, Nicola Luisotti conducted frequently during Zehelein's era.[7][8][9] Zehelein was succeeded by Albrecht Puhlmann.

Present

Jossi Wieler became Intendant (artistic director) of the company in 2011, succeeding Albrecht Puhlmann. Manfred Honeck was Generalmusikdirektor from 2007 to 2011.[10][11][12] In April 2010, Wieler appointed Sylvain Cambreling the next music director of the company, effective with the 2012/13 season.[13]

Recordings

Stuttgart CD productions:

Philip Glass: Akhnaten (1987), Luigi Nono: Intolleranza 1960 (1995) and Al gran sole carico d'amore (2001), Helmut Lachenmann: Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern (2003)

Stuttgart productions on DVD:

Philip Glass: Satyagraha (1983), Handel: Alcina (1999), Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Simplicius Simplicissimus (2005), Mozart: La finta giardiniera [2006), Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (2003), Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Die Soldaten (1989)

References

Notes

  1. Ulrich Drüner: 400 Jahre Staatsorchester Stuttgart. Staatstheater Stuttgart, Stuttgart 1994, p. 62.
  2. Christine Wawra: Zwischen Repräsentation und Resignation. Um- und Neubaupläne des Württembergischen Hoftheaters in Stuttgart 1750 – 1912. Württ. Landesmuseum, Stuttgart 1994. S. 11.
  3. "Brand des Hoftheaters 1902". Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  4. Postkartenansichten Interimstheater
  5. Finanzministerium Baden-Württemberg 1983, p. 42.
  6. "Junge Oper Stuttgart" Archived 21 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine on reseo.org. Retrieved 28 July 2013
  7. Television documentary. Nobert Beilharz, Una Cosa rara – Klaus Zehelein und die Stuttgarter Oper (2003)
  8. Juliane Votteler, Musiktheater heute. Klaus Zehelein. Dramaturg und Intendant, Europäische Verlagsanstalt/Rotbuch Verlag, Hamburg 2000,
  9. Johanne Tremblay, "Klaus Zehelein and the Stuttgart State Opera: When tradition and innovation go hand in hand", International Journal of Arts Management, Volume 6, n° 3 — V631, 2004. ISBN 0-01-480898-6
  10. Andrew Druckenbrod (17 November 2009). "Manfred Honeck to leave Stuttgart Opera". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  11. "Generalmusikdirektor Honeck verlässt Stuttgart". Süd Kurier. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  12. Jürgen Kanold (9 July 2011). "Honecks Stuttgarter Klangkultur". Schwäbisches Tagblatt. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  13. Jürgen Kanold (15 April 2010). "Staatsoper Stuttgart holt Cambreling". Schwäbisches Tagblatt. Retrieved 28 July 2013.

Sources

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