Historical view of the Opera House

The opera house was modeled on English country estates built in the early 18th century, following the example of Andrea Palladio's works. This large-scale new building allowed the Prussian king to present himself as a generous and liberal patron of the arts. However, the opera house didn’t just express the passion Frederick the Great felt for music. It was the first building of the "Forum Fridericianum" on the east edge of Unter den Linden.