As well as being an Opera theater in Berlin's center is the Staatsoper Unter den Linden simultaneously a high quality artistic institution of international renown. Musical theatre finds here its home alongside one of the world's best Orchestras; the Staatskapelle Berlin, lead by the General Musical Director Daniel Barenboim. The history of the Staatsoper and the Staatskapelle however, encompasses much more with its profound roots.This success story continues until today.
1570
Prince-Elector Joachim II Hector of Brandenburg sets up the first charter for musical ensembles.
Johannes EccardStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1608
Johannes Eccard, one of the best-known composers of his time, is appointed director of music in Berlin. His successor Nikolaus Zangius, who directs the ensemble from 1612 to 1618, considerably increases the number of musicians.
Friedrich Wilhelm I.Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1648
Due to the Thirty Years' War which was disastrous for the Margraviate of Brandenburg, the Berlin court orchestra was largely decimated, but not disbanded. The "Great Elector" Frederick William I of Brandenburg gives a fresh lease of life to the orchestra.
Stadtschloss about 1696Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1684
The first opera performances takes place in the Berlin palace with the court orchestra participating.
Carl Philipp Emanuel BachStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1738
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach becomes a member of the court orchestra, playing the harpsichord.
Georg Wenzeslaus von KnobelsdorffStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1740
After his accession to the throne, Frederick II commissions the architect Georg Wenzeslaus Knobelsdorff to build an opera house on the avenue Unter den Linden.
View of the Royal Opera HouseStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1742
The Prussian royal court orchestra finds its home in the new opera house Unter den Linden. The opening premiere is Carl Heinrich Graun's opera »Cleopatra e Cesare«. Johann Joachim Quantz, flute teacher to Frederick II, is the director of the court concerts.
Johann Friedrich ReichhardtStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1783
The first concert series with the court conductor Johann Friedrich Reichardt is established.
Gendarmenmarkt 1815Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1806
Following Napoleon’s defeat of Prussia, no performances were held in the court opera for quite a while. The court orchestra is reduced in size, but continues playing in the national theatre on the Gendarmenmarkt square.
August Wilhelm IfflandStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1811
Court opera and national theatre are combined to form the "Königliche Schauspiele (Royal Theatre)" directed by August Wilhelm Iffland, the two orchestras also join up.
Gasparo SpontiniStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1820
Gasparo Spontini becomes the first Prussian "General-Music-Director". During his 21 years in office he increases the number of players to 94 and also considerably improves its quality.
1821
Carl Maria von Weber's opera »Der Freischütz« premieres in the new theatre building Schauspielhaus am Gendarmenmarkt designed by architect Schinkel, performed by the Berlin court orchestra.
Felix Mendelssohn BartholdyStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1829
Members of the royal court orchestra together with the Sing-Akademie choir participate in the 19th century’s first performance of Bach's »Matthäuspassion«. Young Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy conducts this rediscovery which is highly significant in musical history.
Giacomo MeyerbeerStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1842
The first "Symphonic soiree" was the start of regular symphony concerts by the court orchestra in Berlin. They were performed in various different theatres, particularly in the Apollo room of the Linden opera house. The famous composer Giacomo Meyerbeer is appointed the new musical director.
The fire in 1843Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1843
During the night of 18/19 August the opera house burns down to its very foundations.
Richard WagnerStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1844
In January Richard Wagner conducts the Berlin premiere of his »Fliegender Holländer«. At the end of the year the reconstructed building Unter den Linden is opened with a premiere of Meyerbeer's »Ein Feldlager in Schlesien«.
Richard StraussStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1898
Richard Strauss becomes court conductor and in 1908, musical director. He will go on to conduct more than 1,000 opera and concert performances by the orchestra.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1920
Wilhelm Furtwängler is the conductor of the symphony concerts for two years. With the composer and conductor Max von Schilling as the director, the Staatsoper and Staatskapelle (until 1925) undergo very successful artistic development.
Erich KleiberStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1923
The newly appointed musical director Erich Kleiber conducts his first symphony concert on December 5th. The premiere of Alban Berg’s »Wozzeck« conducted by Kleiber in 1925 marks a milestone in the cultural history of the Weimar Republic.
1927-1931
In the Staatsoper on the Platz der Republik square (the so-called »Kroll opera house«) musical director Otto Klemperer with his own ensemble initiates a series of legendary opera and concert performances taken from classical as well as modern repertoires.
Otto KlempererStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1933
When the National Socialists seize power, many Jewish soloists, conductors and orchestra musicians are forced to emigrate. Wilhelm Furtwängler becomes the opera director.
Herbert von KarajanStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1940
Having previously been an immensely successful conductor in the opera house Unter den Linden, Herbert von Karajan conducts the symphony concerts of the Staatskapelle until 1945.
Reconstruction in 1942Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1941/1942
1945
The Linden opera house is again destroyed on February 3rd. The last symphony concerts during WWII are performed in other locations, among others, in the Schauspielhaus. Only a few weeks after »Zero Hour« the Staatskapelle begins concert performances again. On June 30th the »Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin« starts performing in the Admiralspalast on Friedrichstrasse amongst the ruins of Berlin.
Daniel Barenboim, 1951Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1952
The Barenboim family moves from Argentina to Israel. Daniel Barenboim premieres as a pianist in Vienna and Rome.
Daniel Barenboim, 1953Staatsoper Unter den Linden
1953/54
Daniel Barenboim attends the conducting classes held by Igor Markevich in Salzburg. He meets Wilhelm Furtwängler who invites him to perform with himself and the Berliner Philharmoniker. The next step is his first vinyl recording as a pianist.
Franz KowitschnyStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1955
Due to political conflicts Erich Kleiber resigns as the art director of the Staatsoper. In his place Franz Konwitschny is appointed executive musical director. On September 4th Konwitschny conducts the reopening premiere of the rebuilt Linden opera (Wagner's »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg«).
Otmar Suitner conducts the Staatskapelle BerlinStaatsoper Unter den Linden
1964
The Austrian Otmar Suitner is appointed musical director; a position he occupies until 1990. The Staatsoper is managed by Hans Pischner who together with his team, realizes a well-balanced program comprising classics from the repertoire (especially Mozart, Wagner, Verdi and Strauss) and contemporary composers (e.g. works by Dessau, Shostakovich, Penderecki).
Daniel Barenboim makes his debut in Berlin by playing Bartók's piano concerto No. 1 with the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Pierre Boulez.
1991
Daniel Barenboim becomes the art director and music director of the Staatsoper, Georg Quander being the theatre manager. On December 30th Daniel Barenboim performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 as his first concert with the Staatskapelle. In addition he starts work as the principal conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a function which he holds until 2006.
2002
Peter Mussbach assumed his office as artistic director.
2007
For the first time »Staatsoper für alle« is organized in co-operation with BMW Berlin: the live broadcast of a musical theatre performance from the opera house and an open air concert of the Staatskapelle on Bebelplatz square.
renovated Staatsoper Unter den Linden from Bebelplatz by Marcus Ebener and Marcus EbenerStaatsoper Unter den Linden
2017
Die Staatsoper zieht nach sieben Jahren zurück in das Stammhaus Unter den Linden. Die Eröffnungspremiere ist »Zum Augenblicke sagen: Verweile doch« von Robert Schumann.
