Graz Opera House

The Graz Opera House, is a theater building designed in the neo-baroque style. It is situated on the Opernring in the heart of Graz, Austria.The opera house, which is still in use today, was constructed in 1899 based on designs by the Viennese architect duo Fellner & Helmer. Originally intended as a terrace theater, it currently stands as the second-largest opera house in Austria, surpassed only by the Vienna State Opera.

The house’s high standard is evident in its monumental design language and the opulent auditorium, which features a baroque and rococo-style and can accommodate nearly 1,400 seats.

The Graz Opera House is a versatile venue that offers a wide range of performances. In addition to opera, it also showcases ballet, musicals, and operetta.

History

Construction of the Graz Opera House commenced on April 12, 1898, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I’s reign. This initiative was in accordance with two municipal council resolutions passed in February and July of 1897. The topping-out ceremony for the opera house was held on November 12, 1898.The keystone was laid on the morning of September 16, 1899, and in the evening, the Graz City Theater opened with a performance of Friedrich Schiller’s Wilhelm Tell.The first opera performance, Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin, took place the day after the opening. It was performed under the musical direction of Karl Muck (1859–1940).

The building, which was situated in the heart of Graz (between Opernring and Kaiser-Josef-Platz), had approximately 2,000 seats at that time. It was designed by Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, renowned theater architects from Vienna.The construction management for the project was entrusted to the construction company Franz Stärk and Heinrich Loetz, along with the municipal architect Ludwig Muhry (1861-1929).

The city of Graz has a rich opera tradition. Even prior to the construction of the current opera house in 1899, opera performances were already being held in Graz.The initial theater building was originally a farm building that belonged to the court stables of the imperial family. It was later converted into a theater in the year 1736.The less elaborately designed rooms were primarily dedicated to showcasing contemporary plays and operas.In 1776, Empress Maria Theresa suggested the construction of a “Country Theater” on Freedom Square due to the performances’ excellent reputation.The current Grazer Schauspielhaus is situated at this location, having replaced its predecessor that was destroyed by fire in 1823.

In 1864, a second theatre known as the Thalia am Stadtpark was opened. This theatre, which is the predecessor of today’s Graz Opera, was originally a dodecagonal circus building. It was later modified to accommodate theatrical performances by adding a stage building.

However, because neither of the houses met the structural and technical requirements of a modern theater at that time, the people of Graz strongly expressed their desire for a new theater building.In 1893, the municipal council responded to this issue by commissioning the architectural office of Fellner & Helmer to create the initial plans for the project.The construction of a municipal theater was considered a prestigious project in the city of Graz, reflecting the city’s modern identity and cultural policy. The architectural design aimed to showcase this modernity.The design of the Vienna Court Opera served as the model for the new building.The location chosen for the site next to the Thalia, which has been mostly demolished, was selected.The realization of the Graz Opera marked the thirtieth theater building in Fellner & Helmer’s career.

The extensive plans of architects Fellner & Helmer could not be realized in the intended form due to budget constraints.Contrary to the initial plan, neither the construction of a concert hall next to the theater nor the establishment of a small folk theater on the banks of the Mur River were carried out.

Architecture

Exterior construction

The Graz Opera House is a theater building that stands independently and has a complex structure.The location, situated at a pivotal point between the old town and the new town in the urban area, necessitated a well-coordinated alignment on all sides.The entrance portal is connected to a small forecourt, which in turn leads to a park on the Opernring. The back of the portal, known as the stage house, is adjacent to the Kaiser-Josef-Platz.The dome that covers the entrance area adds a unique accent to the cityscape.

Contrary to the demands of some supporters of German national interests, the building was not constructed in the style of German Renaissance with Gothic influences. Instead, it was designed and built by Fellner & Helmer in a historicist approach, specifically in the “Baroque style as a ‘genuinely Austrian style’.” This decision was made by the city of Graz during a municipal council meeting in September 1897.

The elongated structure consists of three parts that are designed based on the height of each building component and their respective functions. These parts include the entrance hall, the auditorium, and the stage house, which also includes additional rooms.The stage part of the building has a clear architectural emphasis, standing tall above the other segments like a tower. This design is influenced by legal requirements that mandate a fireproof separation between the auditorium and the stage area.

Fellner & Helmer also designed the roofing of the building to complement its inner structure.The protruding entrance hall is characterized by its reinforced octagonal domed roof. The auditorium also features a dome-shaped roof and is connected to the rectangular stage tower. The highest point of the building is represented by the mansard roof of the stage tower, which accentuates the playing area.

The division of the theater building in Graz into its dedicated parts occurred during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.The tripartite structure, which consists of the place of encounter, place of collection, and place of action, is particularly evident in the Volkstheater in Vienna (1888/89), which was also designed by Fellner & Helmer.There are early examples that demonstrate a clear inclination towards separating spatial functional areas. Two such examples are the playhouse on Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel from 1818 to 1820, and the Semperoper Dresden, designed by Gottfried Semper from 1871 to 1878.

Interior design

The opera house has three main entrances and two lateral side entrances that lead into its interior. Once inside, visitors are greeted by a magnificent and light-flooded entrance hall. This grand space features a central main staircase and two separate side staircases. The staircase hall is considered the focal point because it combines the main staircase and the two side staircases to create a large and impressive room composition.

The main staircase is beautifully adorned and starts with a grand central flight. It then splits at a landing into two separate staircases that lead to the surrounding galleries on the upper floor.The entrances to the balcony boxes of the auditorium are also connected from there.The Vienna Opera House also features a central fixed staircase, which served as a model for the Graz building.The interior of the building has a baroque and festive atmosphere, which is further enhanced by the lavish decoration of the stairwell. The stairwell features white marble, gold ornaments, and sculptural bronze candelabra on the balustrades. The design style mentioned is a distinctive feature of the architectural work by Fellner & Helmer, especially when it comes to houses with exceptional requirements.

The horseshoe-shaped auditorium continues the baroque and rococo decoration, featuring a design that combines elements of a balcony and a gallery theater.The colors white, gold, and red are dominant in the typical theater. Furthermore, the walls and ceilings are adorned with elaborate and gilded stucco decorations, complemented by a three-part ceiling painting.The painting’s focal point is the arrival of Lohengrin, a character from Richard Wagner’s opera “Lohengrin.” This central scene is accompanied by depictions of scenes from Schiller’s play “Wilhelm Tell” and Goethe’s work “Faust.”The Viennese studio Ludwig Structius is responsible for creating the intricate rocaille shapes, delicate tendrils, and ribbons that adorn walls, pillars, lunettes, and vaults.

The flat, vaulted ceiling gently slopes downward toward the stage.The vaulted ceiling is divided by multiple transverse arches, which serve to highlight the front audience area, the proscenium, and the main stage.

The auditorium has approximately 1,400 seats available for visitors.In the center, directly across from the stage, there is a continuous, two-story balcony that is surrounded by tiers of boxes.The immediate model for this design is the comedy theater hall in Budapest, which was built by Fellner & Helmer in 1886/1887.Above the double balcony, there is a spacious gallery balcony that extends horizontally towards the proscenium.Luxurious, richly decorated corner boxes connect balconies and boxes.

On the ground floor, there are state boxes located in front of the proscenium. These boxes face each other and have their own entrances and foyers. Originally, these spaces were designated for special guests.The arrangement of the VIP boxes in this venue was inspired by the design of the Vienna City Theater, which was also created by the talented architects Fellner & Helmer. This arrangement serves as a testament to the elegant interior design of the venue.