History
The Stuttgart Staatsoper forms part of the Stuttgart State Theatre (Staatstheater Stuttgart), which is a three-branch-theatre complex (opera, playhouse and ballet) and represents the largest theatre of its kind in Europe. The opera house itself, formerly known locally as the Grosses Haus, was designed by Max Littmann and opened in 1912 with the world premiere of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos". The house, which has been a listed building since 1924, currently has 1,404 seats and a per-season audience of approximately 250,000. The opera house building is one of the few major German opera houses not to be destroyed in the World War II. The smaller playhouse ("Kleines Haus") of the complex was destroyed in the war and replaced by a modern building, built between 1959 and 1962. The opera house is also home to the Stuttgart Ballet.
An important centre for opera since the 17th century, Stuttgart has again become an important and influential centre since the war, particularly for contemporary works. Three operas by Carl Orff received their premieres there and the company has been associated with figures such as Wieland Wagner, Günther Rennert, Hans Werner Henze and Philip Glass.
The company has won the Opera House of the Year award by the German magazine Opernwelt more often than any other company: in 1994 (the inaugural award), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and in 2006.
Jossi Wieler became artistic director of the company in 2011, succeeding Albrecht Puhlmann. The most recent Generalmusikdirektor was Manfred Honeck, from 2007 to 2011. In April 2010, Wieler appointed Sylvain Cambreling the next music director of the company, effective with the 2012-2013 season.
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