The Vienna State Opera is one of the most important opera houses in the world and a landmark in Vienna.
In this guide you will find out what you can do in the State Opera, the current program, the history and information about how to get there, tickets and guided tours.
What Can I Do at the State Opera?
The world-famous opera house promises the finest musical enjoyment with a diverse program consisting of around 60 different operas and ballets per season.
Since it opened around 150 years ago, the Vienna State Opera has offered breathtaking musical performances with musical greats from Mozart to Pavarotti. The Vienna Philharmonic, a world-class orchestra, makes a significant contribution to the fact that musical entertainment is presented at the highest level in the breathtaking ambience of the State Opera.
The Vienna State Opera is also known for the legendary Vienna Opera Ball, which takes place here every year and the tickets for which are usually sold out long in advance. The tickets for the performances also sell out quickly, so it is advisable to book them as early as possible.
Even those who are not great fans of classical music should pay a visit to the Vienna State Opera. The neo-Renaissance opera house not only impresses with spectacular performances, but also with its magnificent architecture and sensational interior. These can also be admired on a guided tour that tells more about the architecture, history and opera operations.
Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours
- Tickets: You can find the ticket prices for all current performances on the website of the Vienna State Opera.
- Guided Tours: Those interested can take a look behind the scenes of the opera house on a guided tour. The current dates can be found on the State Opera 's website .
Schedule with the Current Program
The Vienna State Opera is considered the opera house with the largest repertoire. Typical Austrian operas such as those by Mozart are often performed. But also internationally known works are regularly brought to the stage.
Ballet works are also part of the repertoire of the magnificent opera house.
The program of the Vienna State Opera changes daily. Here you will find the program with the current program of the Vienna State Opera.
How Do I Get to the Vienna State Opera?
The State Opera is located on the famous Ringstrasse in Vienna's 1st district.
The best way to get to the State Opera is from the Karlsplatz underground station, which you can take the U1, U2 and U4 to.
Alternatively, you can also take the 59A bus or the 1, 2, D, 62 or 71 tram to the Opernring station.
State Opera Cafe
Inside the State Opera is the Café Oper Wien, which it claims is “Vienna’s most musical café”.
The traditional coffee house with Viennese charm is a popular meeting place for music lovers, opera artists and visitors to the opera. With its traditional Viennese coffeehouse ambience and quickly served delicacies, the café attracts with enjoyment and cosiness, especially during the breaks in the performances.
History of the Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera was built between 1863 and 1896 as the successor to the Vienna Court Opera. It was the first house on what was then the new ring road.
The building was designed by the Viennese architects August von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll. At the time, however, the building was heavily criticized by the public and was considered an architectural disaster, leading the sensitive van der Nüll to commit suicide. Just two months later, Sicardsburg died of a heart attack, meaning that both architects did not live to see the completion of the building.
Inauguration with Don Giovanni by Mozart
The State Opera was inaugurated on May 25, 1869 with a premiere of Mozart's "Don Giovanni", in which the imperial couple Franz Joseph and Sisi also took part. The opera served as the Imperial Court Theater until the end of the monarchy in 1918.
During the National Socialist era, there were numerous performance bans and members of the house were persecuted, expelled and murdered. On March 12, 1945, shortly before the end of the Second World War, the building was severely damaged by bombardment. The opera house was rebuilt from 1948 to 1955.
The Vienna State Opera has borne its current name since its glamorous reopening on November 5, 1955 with Beethoven's "Fidelio". Over the years, the Vienna State has been the scene of countless premieres and famous performances, in which stars of the opera scene regularly appear.
Today, the Vienna State Opera is one of the leading and most important opera houses in the world and a cultural landmark in Vienna.
Contact
- Address: Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna
- Subway : U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz
- Website : https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/