At the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper), approximately 350 performances are held each season, with around 600,000 spectators enjoying Viennese culture at its best. If you fancy soaking up some local culture, there’s no doubt that the Opera House is the perfect place. You can even buy a ticket to an opera performance for 5 to 10 Euros (standing room only). Another option is to watch live performances through the Opera House’s broadcasting system. In addition to all this, there are daily guided tours for visitors.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Vienna State Opera:
- The Story of the Opera House (First and Second Opera Buildings)
- The Unique Architecture of the Opera House
- Behind the Scenes of the Opera
- The Auditorium
- Art Exhibition at the Opera House
- Performances and Concerts at the Opera House
- Guided Tours of the Opera House
- Additional Essential Information for Your Visit
The Story of the Opera House
Like many buildings in Vienna, the Habsburg family—who ruled Austria—built the Opera House for their own enjoyment. Initially, they called it the “Royal Opera House” (Wiener Hofoper), but after the monarchy fell and the Republic of Austria was established, the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) replaced that name.
The First Opera Building
The construction of the Opera House took approximately eight years, from 1861 to 1869. Its planning and design were carried out by architects August von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll, who chose a Neo-Renaissance style. Their aim was to create a magnificent and ornate building, which led them to demand the use of special stones that were uncommon in Vienna, such as Wöllersdorfer stone. The interior was adorned with various types of marble.
Despite the significant investment in its planning and construction, the city’s residents rejected the opera house and leveled heavy criticism against it. Many argued that the building failed to impress compared to the neighboring Heinrichshof—a private residential building that World War II destroyed completely, leaving nothing for modern visitors to see. The public disappointment had tragic consequences: Eduard van der Nüll took his own life, and ten weeks later his partner, August von Sicardsburg, suffered a fatal heart attack. In the end, neither architect lived to see the completion of the opera house they designed.
In 1869, the Opera House officially opened with the premiere performance of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth (known as Sisi) attended this event.
For about 65 years, the Opera House operated continuously and hosted many important performances. Its most significant period of growth came under the leadership of Gustav Mahler, who served as director and modernized the performance system, transforming it into a highly efficient and precise institution.
The Opera House during WW II
The period of World War II was devastating for the Opera House. Between 1938 and 1945, when Austria was under Nazi rule, many artists were removed from their positions, persecuted, and in some cases murdered. Numerous performances were banned, and the overall functioning of the Opera House was severely disrupted.
In the last days of the war, amidst the Allied bombing, the Opera House was severely damaged, and large parts of it were completely destroyed, including the auditorium and the stage. Approximately 150,000 different costumes burned in the flames that raged through the building. Fortunately, the front part, including the decorated foyer, the main staircase, the corridor, and the tea room, survived the bombings.
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The Opera House Today
Today, the Vienna State Opera is regarded as one of the best opera houses in the world. Each season features around 350 performances, including about 60 opera and ballet productions spanning styles from the Baroque era to the present. Performances are available nearly every night, offering the widest variety of productions in the opera world. The Opera also invests in young talent, with children’s groups learning singing and dancing and performing in a special rooftop tent called the Mobilkom. The Opera House employs around 1,000 staff members.
In 2013, an online streaming service for opera performances even began operating, much like a Netflix for the Opera House. For more information.
The Unique Architecture of the Opera House
There is no doubt that the building’s architecture is exceptional and impressive.
The exterior facing the Ringstrasse survived the shelling of World War II and has stood since 1869. Designed in a Renaissance style, the façade features numerous arches, and the balcony overlooking the Ringstrasse emphasizes its public character.
At the front corners of the building stand statues of horse-mounted riders, installed in 1876. Sculpted by Ernst Julius Hähnel, they represent the winged horses of the Greek Muse Erato.
Above the balcony arches are five copper statues, also sculpted by Hähnel, representing (from left to right) Heroic Valour, Tragedy, Fantasy, Comedy, and Love. On either side of the building stand two fountains symbolizing contrasting worlds: the left represents music, dance, and joy, while the right represents sorrow, revenge, love, and temptation.
The building itself is not symmetrical, and its rear part is wider than its front part. The stage and the surrounding rooms are located in the rear of the building, and the auditorium is in the front.
Behind the Scenes of the Opera
The post-war construction added the stage and the backstage area on top of the first structure. Between 1991 and 1993, additional renovation work introduced advanced technological systems, including microphones, speakers, and video. This phase also upgraded the building’s electrical, heating, and fire extinguishing systems.
In addition to the various rehearsal rooms for opera performances, there are also three rehearsal rooms for the choir and orchestra, as well as an organ room on the sixth floor. This is a huge organ with 2500 pipes, and in fact, the Vienna State Opera is the only one in the world with such a large organ.
The Auditorium
The auditorium hall is designed in a semi-circular shape. Its current capacity is 2284 people (the capacity of the original hall was 2881 people). There are 1709 seating places, 567 standing places (tickets are very cheap for those standing), and 4 places for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs.
The dominant colors in this room are red, gold, and ivory. Safety concerns forced the removal of the original large chandelier from the center of the room, with a different lamp taking its place.
Art Exhibition at the Opera House
Since 1998, a unique and different art exhibition has begun at the Opera House. The exhibition, titled “Safety Curtain,” displays large-scale paintings by various esteemed artists directly on the iron curtain that separates the audience from the stage. Currently, a painting by the American artist John Baldessari is on display. You can admire the interesting designs here.
Performances and Concerts at the Opera House
Almost every day of the week, a wonderful opera performance takes place at the Opera House. The performances are elaborate and stunningly beautiful, so there is no doubt that an evening at the opera is an unforgettable experience. You can view the list of various opera performances on the official website of the Opera House and purchase tickets directly from there.
In addition, the box offices at the Opera House are open every Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM until one hour before the performance (on Saturdays, the box offices are open until 5:00 PM). On Sundays and holidays, the Opera House box offices are closed. Please note: you can purchase tickets for the standing area. These tickets are very inexpensive (between 5 and 10 Euros). In any case, it is advisable to arrive in respectable and elegant attire.
Good to know: Every year, from spring until the end of summer, a screen in the plaza outside the building broadcasts various opera performances. You can watch the performances for free on the big screen. If you arrive early enough, you can even snag excellent seating.
This is what a Mozart Performance at the Opera House looks like
If you are interested in classical music concerts, we have prepared a list of recommendations compiling the various concerts available in the city. The concerts take place in various impressive venues such as Schönbrunn Palace, central churches, and also the concert hall of the Society of Friends of Music.
Guided Tours of the Opera House
A guided tour of the Opera House will allow you to glimpse behind the scenes of one of the best theaters in the world. The tour lasts about 40 minutes, and during it, you will hear interesting facts about the building’s history, its architecture, and how it operates today.
The tour begins in the entrance hall and from there up the impressive staircase towards the various rooms: the Tea Room, the Marble Hall, and the Gustav Mahler Auditorium. At the end of the tour, you will be able to see the auditorium and the stage.
Tour times: Monday to Sunday. The tour does not depart at fixed times every day. Please check here for tour times on your desired days.
Tour languages: German, English, Spanish. Tours can also be arranged in advance in Italian, French, and Russian.
Booking tickets for the tour: Tickets for tours can be booked on the Opera’s website.
Meeting point: Goethegasse 1 Wiener Staatsoper Guided tours
If you do not wish to join a guided tour, but still want to admire the building, you can take a virtual tour.
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit
The Opera House is located in a central area on Vienna’s Ringstrasse. It is next to Vienna’s largest subway station, Karlsplatz Station.
How to get to the Opera House?
You can take the subway using lines U1 (red line), U2 (purple line), or U4 (green line). Get off at Karlsplatz station and look for the Opera exit. The sign will show the word “Oper,” and from there, you should take the escalators to the upper level.
Address: Opernring 2, 1010 Wien
Map:
In the vicinity of the Opera House, you can visit several other attractions: St. Charles Church, Hofburg Palace, Burggarten, the MuseumQuartier, and Mariahilfer shopping street. You can also walk from the Opera House into the Old City to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. If you are interested in additional classical activities in the city, it’s worth reading about the best classical concerts you can visit during a trip to Vienna.
