Bavarian State Opera: Performances at the National Theater in Munich

The Bavarian State Opera at a glance

• Location: National Theater at Max-Joseph-Platz in the city center, just a few minutes walk from Marienplatz. The tram stops directly in front of the National Theater (tram 16, 17, 20 and 21).
• Stages: opera hall with 2,101 seats
• Repertoire: nearly 350 opera and ballet performances a year
• Special features: The annual opera festival has been one of the world's most important music festivals since 1875
• History: The National Theater on Max-Joseph-Platz has been home to the Bavarian State Opera since 1818; 1823 to 1825 first rebuilt after major fire; 1958 to 1963 second rebuilt after World War II

Bavarian State Ballet

The Bavarian State Ballet offers an extensive repertoire. In addition, it offers family performances with children's introductions to ballet as well as a workshop with SpielBallett to go with the family performances.

Bavarian State Orchestra

The Bavarian State Orchestra is one of the oldest orchestras in Germany, whose origins can be traced back to 1523.

It is the only orchestra in Munich that performs in opera and concert. As guest conductors, the Bavarian State Orchestra has been able to welcome all the renowned representatives of the international elite.

Concert lovers can look forward to a varied program of the Bavarian State Orchestra: under the direction of top-class conductors, pieces by great and exciting composers are performed. In addition, numerous chamber and special concerts are always on the Bavarian State Orchestra's schedule.

The History of the Bavarian State Opera

The Bavarian State Opera can look back on a long history:
In the 17th century, Elector Ferdinand Maria (who also had Nymphenburg Palace and the Theatinerkirche built) erected a hall theater in the Herkulessaal of the Residenz, where the first Italian opera productions were staged in front of the court company.

In 1818, the opera ensemble was given a new home in the newly built National Theater on Max-Joseph-Platz, still the largest opera house in Germany today.

The reign of the art-loving Bavarian king Ludwig II. (1864-86) is closely associated with the name of Richard Wagner. The festival began under the general director Karl von Perfall (1867-93). He organized a festival summer for the first time in 1875 with operas by Mozart and music dramas by Wagner.

In time, the idea of a festival also pushed for a festival hall of its own. Thus, around the turn of the century, the Prinzregententheater was built within a year's time, born of the citizens' desire and promoted by the arts-minded Prince Regent Luitpold.

The list of important conductors at the helm of the Bavarian State Orchestra, which can trace its tradition back to 1523, is legendary: Bruno Walter, Hans Knappertsbusch, Clemens Krauss, Georg Solti, Ferenc Fricsay, Joseph Keilberth, Wolfgang Sawallisch up to Zubin Mehta in our days, who was succeeded by Kent Nagano in 2006. Carlos Kleiber was as closely associated with the Bavarian State Opera as with any other house.