Opera and Ballet in Berlin

Although most of Berlin's opera houses were badly damaged in World War Two, the reconstruction and renovation work is immaculate. The neo-classical Staatsoper on Unter den Linden, built by Knobelsdorff in the middle of the 18th C. as the Royal Court Opera for Frederick the Great, hosts world class opera and ballet performances in a traditional setting with ornate boxes and plaster mouldings, chandeliers and wall-paintings. Berg's 'Wozzeck' was premiered here in 1925, and Richard Strauss was Kapellmeister in 1898 and General Music Director in 1908. Currently the internationally famous conductor Daniel Barenboim is at the helm and makes appearances here several times a year.

Its opposite number in the west of the city, the Deutsche Oper, was erected in 1912 and had its heyday in the 20s when conductors like Klemperer and Strauss took the podium. Damaged in the war, it was completely rebuilt in 1961, and has fantastic acoustics, an accomplished resident company and regularly stages Wagner, Verdi and Puccini.

The Komische Oper, off Unter den Linden, was founded with a brief to create a more realistic style of operatic stage performance. It presents modern, almost musical-style productions of light opera, with extravagant staging and lighting.

In the suburbs are to be found several high quality opera houses, like the Neuköllner Oper, often featuring unusual programmes of works rarely performed.

Tickets for most operas, excluding persistent favourites like Wagner's 'Tristan and Isolde', are very cheap relative to most European and American cities, and availability is good.

Dance
Classical ballets are presented regularly at the Staatsoper and Deutsche Oper. Modern dance work ranging from Pina Bausch to Gosh is performed at some of the bigger theatres like Theater des Westens, and experimental work is on show in Arts Centres like the Tanzfabrik (the dance factory).

If you'd like us to reserve tickets for a particular event or show, or help you find what you're looking for, you only have to let us know. Choose the entertainment you are interested in the travel request form.

See list of oper/ballet links here.