Stadttheater Klagenfurt

The Stadttheater was constructed in 1908 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Franz Joseph I’s reign. It was designed by architects Fellner and Helmer, who used the same floor plan as the theaters in Giessen and Gablonz. The theater was officially inaugurated in 1910.

The Stadttheater Klagenfurt has achieved national significance, particularly during the tenures of its directors Herbert Wochinz (1968-1992) and Dietmar Pflegerl (1992-2007).Both directors prioritized classical performances during their terms of office at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt. Additionally, they made sure to organize a significant number of premieres and first performances.

The “Napoleonstadl” is a former prop depot that has been repurposed for the performance of experimental theater pieces.Semi-professional groups perform off-off-Broadway theater productions in the “Volxhaus” and “Artecielo” buildings.The HALLE 11 theatre is where the Klagenfurt ensemble, under the direction of Gerhard Lehner, presents contemporary spoken and musical theater performances.

During the 2000s and 2010s, Klagenfurt gained significant media attention due to the Wörtherseebühne, an open-air stage located on the eastern shore of Lake Wörthersee.However, these reports not only covered performances on the lake stage, but also frequently discussed political discussions and economic issues related to the operation of the stage.The lake stage was finally demolished in 2015.

The parent company closed in 2014 following a flood. Prior to that, operations had already been scaled back due to construction defects.The proposal by architects Winkler+Ruck was selected during the architectural competition for the general renovation of the building.The planning is being done in collaboration with architect Ferdinand Certov.The plans were presented in January 2020. According to the plans, the inner courtyard will be covered with a transparent glass roof, and the Museumsgasse will be transformed into a traffic-calmed area.The upcoming exhibition should center on three main themes: the history of the Earth, the natural beauty of Carinthia, and significant historical events in the country’s past.

The general renovation began in 2020.The museum reopened on November 21, 2022, with its new name, kärnten.museum.Out of the total cost of 13.2 million euros, 9.5 million euros will be allocated for the conversion of the building.Furthermore, a total of 3.7 million euros will be allocated towards the furnishing of the building.