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After the war the stage house was reconstructed on the original foundation walls. Workshops (such as the paint shop, set workshop, costume shop, hat and shoe shop as well as the costume store) which were formerly located in the House were moved next door to the Austrian National Theatres building (Hanuschgasse 1). The opera building is reached through an underground tunnel, through which the necessary costumes are transported daily without coming into contact with traffic. In the stage house the necessary space for rehearsal rooms was created, of which there had been a severe shortage. In addition, a canteen was needed and all the various management offices and administration offices. The majority of the rooms, including the artists’ dressing rooms, are equipped with loud speakers and video monitors which allow the action on stage to be followed.
Refurbishment
In the summer months of 1991 to 1993, as well as during a longer period from July to December 1994, the Wiener Staatsoper was substantially refurbished—on schedule and in record time. The principal work was the refurbishment of the stage machinery.
Brought up to the most modern technical standards, the hydraulic lifts and the electronic fly machinery allow and even more precise and flawless performance. The electrical supply, which came formerly from the Hofburg, was entrusted to two transformer stations. While all of these features, as well as the new heating, fire and safety systems, are invisible to the public there were also renovations to the auditorium such as refurbishment of the paint and the replacement of the box seats.
"Eberhard Waechter" Rehearsal Room
In addition, during this time an until then unused room under the roof was transformed into a new rehearsal room. Acoustically fitted out so that it can be used not only for stage rehearsals but also for orchestra rehearsals, this nearly 400 m2 hall (with side rooms around 700 m2) was officially opened by Director Ioan Holender on 1 September 1995. Its name, "Eberhard Waechter Rehearsal Room" is in memory of the deceased singer and Staatsoper General Director.
Other Rehearsal Rooms
Beside this rehearsal room the Staatsoper has three rooms for ensemble rehearsals with chorus and orchestra, one rehearsal room 26 X 14 m in size, and an organ hall on the 6th floor. This room not only has a rehearsal function: its name comes from the large organ with 2,500 pipes (the Staatsoper is the only opera house in the world with such a large pipe organ) whose sound can be transmitted to the auditorium when needed. Other acoustical effects can also be transmitted ‘live’ from the organ room, for example the sound of hammering on the anvils in Wagner’s Rheingold. Furthermore the Staatsoper has at its disposal ten sound-proof soloist practice rooms as well as one large and one small ballet rehearsal room.
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