Renovated Berlin opera house finally opens - temporarily
The Staatsoper will be closed after one production for technicians to master its new computer-controlled stage equipment
Berlin
AFTER seven years of construction, the Staatsoper is finally preparing to reopen its doors on the historic Boulevard Unter den Linden, at least temporarily. The work took much longer than expected - the company was originally scheduled to move back from its interim residence across town in the Schiller Theater four years ago - and the renovation costs spiralled from an estimated 239 million euros to 400 million euros (S$645.8 million), half of which was covered by federal funds.
The season begins on Sept 30 with a concert outside the opera house and continues on Oct 3 with a new production of Schumann's Szenen aus Goethes Faust, to be conducted by the music director, Daniel Barenboim, and staged by the current general director, Jürgen Flimm. Performances in the main theatre will then be suspended for approximately two months, starting Oct 8, so that technicians can master the new computer-controlled stage equipment.
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