Stuttgart Opera

The Staatsoper Stuttgart (Stuttgart State Opera) is a German opera company based in Stuttgart, Germany.

The Stuttgart Staatsoper forms part of the Stuttgart State Theatre (Staatstheater Stuttgart), which is a three-branch theatre complex (opera, playhouse and ballet) and represents the largest theatre of its kind in Europe. The opera house itself, formerly known locally as the Grosses Haus, was designed by Max Littmann and opened in 1912. The house, which has been a listed building since 1924, currently has 1,404 seats and a per-season audience of approximately 250,000. The opera house building is one of the few major German opera houses not to be destroyed in the World War II. The smaller playhouse ("Kleines Haus"), site of the world premiere of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos" was destroyed in the war and replaced by a modern building, built between 1959 and 1962. The opera house is also home to the Stuttgart Ballet.

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.

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, Christoph Nel, Hans Neuenfels, Peter Konwitchny and Jossi Wieler. He created the Junge Oper (an institute dedicated to performing music theater works for young audiences). 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, Catherine Naglestad, 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. Zehelein was succeeded by Albrecht Puhlmann.

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