Graz Opera

Opera had been performed in Graz since the 17th century, originally in a converted coach house on the Habsburg royal estates. The National Theatre (Schauspielhaus Graz), constructed in 1776, saw many early performances of Mozart's operas, although today (after many reconstructions) it is devoted to the performances of plays.Grazer Opera. [http://www.theater-graz.com/oper/haus.php Kurze Geschichte der Grazer Oper (Brief History of Graz Opera)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029235846/http://www.theater-graz.com/oper/haus.php |date=2011-10-29 }} {{in lang|de}}

The city's first dedicated opera house and the immediate predecessor of the Graz Opera was the Thalia Theatre, adapted in 1864 from an old circus hall. Plans for a new theatre suitable to the growing size and importance of the city and intended to be a "new home for German art" were first proposed in 1887.Stråth (1999) pp. 236 and 240

Designed by Ferdinand Fellner and Herman Helmer in the neo-baroque style, the Graz Opera was inaugurated in 1899 with a performance of Schiller's play William Tell, followed a few days later by Wagner's opera Lohengrin. The building suffered damage during World War II bombings but was repaired and re-opened after the war. Between 1983 and 1985, it underwent a $15 million renovation which saw the installation of modern equipment and facilities without significantly changing the original exterior and interior of the building.{{cite news | author=Paul Hofmann | title=Even Graz Can Cut Loose | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/15/travel/even-graz-can-cut-loose.html | work=New York Times | date=1985-12-15 | access-date=2011-10-12}} Today, the opera seats around 1,200 people.{{Cite web|url=https://oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com/ihr-besuch/geschichte-der-oper/ |title= Geschichte der Oper Graz |access-date=2024-09-02 |language=German }}

The current Intendantin of the company is Nora Schmid, since 1 January 2015, in succession to Elisabeth Sobotka.{{cite news | title=Oper Graz: Schweizerin Schmid wird neue Intendantin | url=http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/1387108/Oper-Graz_Schweizerin-Schmid-wird-neue-Intendantin?from=suche.intern.portal | work=Die Presse | date=2013-04-10 | access-date=2013-12-25}} Schmid is scheduled to stand down as Intendantin after the 2022–2023 season.{{cite press release | url=https://oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com/news-details/intendantin-nora-schmid-wechselt-mit-der-saison-202425-an-die-semperoper-dresden | title=Intendantin Nora Schmid wechselt mit der Saison 2024/25 an die Semperoper Dresden | publisher=Oper Graz | date=June 2021 | access-date=2021-06-14}} In November 2021, the company announced the appointment of Ulrich Lenz as its next Intendant, effective with the 2023–2024 season.{{cite news | title=Deutscher Dramaturg Ulrich Lenz wird Intendant der Oper Graz | url=https://www.diepresse.com/6066541/deutscher-dramaturg-ulrich-lenz-wird-intendant-der-oper-graz | work=Die Presse | date=2021-11-26 | access-date=2023-01-04}}

Past general music directors (GMD) of the company have included Niksa Bareza (1981–1990), Philippe Jordan (2001–2004), Johannes Fritzsch (2006–2013), and Dirk Kaftan (2013–2017).{{cite news | title=Dirk Kaftan neuer Chefdirigent der Grazer Oper | url=http://steiermark.orf.at/news/stories/2571692/ | work=ORF (Steiermark) | date=2013-02-15 | access-date=2013-12-25}} In the autumn of 2016, Oksana Lyniv made her first guest-conducting appearance with the company, in a production of La traviata. In February 2017, the company announced the appointment of Lyniv as its next GMD, effective with the 2017–2018 season. Lyniv is the first female conductor to be named GMD of Graz Opera.{{cite news | title=Oksana Lyniv wird neue Chefdirigentin der Grazer Oper | url=http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/5163783/Oksana-Lyniv-wird-neue-Chefdirigentin-der-Grazer-Oper | work=Die Presse | date=2017-02-02 | access-date=2017-03-11}} She concluded her tenure in Graz at the end of the 2019–2020 season. In December 2018, the company announced the appointment of Roland Kluttig as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2020–2021 season, with an initial contract of 3 seasons.{{cite press release | url=https://www.oper-graz.com/news-details/roland-kluttig-wird-ab-202021-chefdirigent-der-grazer-philharmoniker | title=Roland Kluttig wird ab 2020/21 Chefdirigent der Grazer Philharmoniker | publisher=Oper Graz | date=7 December 2018 | access-date=2018-12-14 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news | url=https://derstandard.at/2000093407973/Deutscher-Roland-Kluttig-folgt-Oksana-Lyniv-als-Chefdirigent-in-Graz | title=Deutscher Roland Kluttig wird Chefdirigent in Graz | work=Der Standard | date=2018-12-07 | access-date=2018-12-14}} Kluttig is scheduled to conclude his tenure at the close of the 2022–2023 season. In December 2022, the company announced the appointment of Vassilis Christopoulos as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023–2024 season.{{cite news | url=https://www.diepresse.com/6230566/vassilis-christopoulos-wird-chefdirigent-der-grazer-oper | title=Vassilis Christopoulos wird Chefdirigent der Grazer Oper | work=Die Presse | date=2022-12-22 | access-date=2023-01-04}}

• Herbert Albert (1950–1952)
• Berislav Klobučar (1960–1971)
• Nikša Bareza (1981–1990)
• Mario Venzago (1991–1994)
• Philippe Jordan (2001–2004)
• Johannes Fritzsch (2006–2013)
• Dirk Kaftan (2013–2017)
• Oksana Lyniv (2017–2020)
• Roland Kluttig (2020–2023)
• Vassilis Christopoulos (2023-present)

{{reflist}}

• Stråth, Bo (1999). [https://books.google.com/books?id=OqFGQ6TUdToC&dq=Thalia+theatre+Graz&pg=PA236 The Postmodern Challenge]. Rodopi. {{ISBN|90-420-0745-1}}

• {{commons category-inline|Opernhaus Graz|Graz Opera}}
• [http://www.oper-graz.com/ Official website of Oper Graz]

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{{Theatre in Austria}}

Category:Opera houses in Austria

Category:Fellner & Helmer buildings

Category:Music venues completed in 1899

Category:Buildings and structures in Graz

Category:Tourist attractions in Graz

Category:Theatres completed in 1899

Category:1899 establishments in Austria-Hungary

Category:Culture in Graz