Staatsoper in the Schiller Theater

The Berliner Staatsoper Unter den Linden (“Berlin State Opera”) combines 250 years of tradition, development and innovation unlike any other establishment in the city. The historical building on the Unter den Linden boulevard is a protected site and is going to be elaborately refurbished. As of the 2010/2011 season, the Staatsoper Ensemble will therefore perform together with the Staatskapelle while the Schiller Theater undergoes a four year construction phase in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

The Staatsoper’s new home features a modern layout and simple elegance. Built in 1905, the theatre was a member of the Staatliche Schauspielbühnen Berlin (“Berlin State Drama Stages”) from 1951 until 1993 and the largest spoken theatre stage in the city. Recent years have seen the Schiller Theater mainly serve as a guest performance location for larger musical and theatre productions. The Staatsoper’s move saw the stage’s setup and technology adjusted according to the opera’s needs.

Under the new directorship of Jürgen Flimm, the Staatsoper opened its first season in the Schiller Theater with the world premiere “Metanoia” including a musical score by Jens Joneleit and a text by René Pollesch. The season continues to shine with further premieres from the likes of Igor Strawinsky with “The Rake’s Progress” and Peter Eötvös with “Tri Sestri”.

The Staatsoper’s Easter celebrations and the Barenboim series will also take place at the new location. Furthermore, the scheduling of other event series such as “Schlaflos in Charlottenburg” (Sleepless in Charlottenburg) and “Mein Schiller” (My Schiller) will be determined by their respective temporary venues. With the Staatsoper moving into the Schiller Theater and the Deutsche Oper Berlin sitting only a few kilometres away, the Bismarckstraße will turn into a new opera mile.