Zurich Opera House

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Zurich Opera House (Opernhaus Zürich) is an opera house which has been the Zurich Opera’s home since 1891. It seats 1,100 people.

The original 1834 theatre, the Aktientheater, burnt down in 1890, and the company then moved to the re-built theatre, named the Stadttheater Zurich. Existing as the city’s main performance space for drama, opera, and musical events until 1925, this theatre was renamed as the Opernhaus Zürich and a separate playhouse was built.

By the 1970s, the Opernhaus was badly in need of major renovations; when some considered it not worth restoring, a new theatre was proposed for the site. However, between 1982 and 1984, rebuilding took place but not without huge local opposition which was expressed in street riots. The rebuilt theatre was inaugurated with Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the world première of Rudolf Kelterborn’s Chekov opera Der Kirschgarten.

As restored, the theatre is an ornate building with a neo-classical façade of white and grey stone adorned with busts of Weber, Wagner, and Mozart. Additionally, busts of Schiller, Shakespeare, and Goethe are to be found. The auditorium is built in the rococo style.

Alexander Pereira has been Director since 1991.