In December 1926, the Vienna State Opera made history by hosting the first event specifically intended for children with »Peterchens Mondfahrt« (Peter's Journey to the Moon). Contemporary reports show that the public rightly understood this as a step towards openness, an invitation to an audience that had not previously had access to opera.
In the hundred years since then, much has happened: projects like the always awe-inspiring »Zauberflöte für Kinder« (The Magic Flute for Children) have become tradition, there have been temporary venues for children's operas, and since 2020, the State Opera has expanded its reach through the activities of a new Outreach Department. Numerous initiatives for young audiences have been launched, and for the first time in the history of the institution, an opera was performed specifically for teenagers. All of this is good and important – but in December 2024, we want to take the decisive next step.
To pass on the enthusiasm for the art form to the next generations – both in the audience and in the artistic talent pipeline – more space is needed, quite literally, than the most frequently used opera house in the world can provide. This work requires a permanent location, a real home – for experiments, for new formats, for inspiration: the famous green meadow where various things can flourish.
This meadow is the new venue of the State Opera, which will open in December 2024 in the Französischer Saal of the Künstlerhaus. A 250-seat theater with all the trimmings, including modern stage machinery, an orchestra pit, and additional rooms for smaller events. It is located just a stone's throw from the State Opera, in the Künstlerhaus on Karlsplatz, in direct proximity to the Musikverein, the Albertina Modern, or the Vienna Museum. Financed by a major philanthropic effort, a special grant from the Republic, by sponsors, and the support of our Official Circle of Friends.
