Volksoper

Volksoper, built in 1898 according to plans by F. Freiherr von Krauß and A. Graf at Währinger Gürtel in Vienna as "Kaiser-Jubiläums-Stadttheater", opened its doors under A. Müller-Guttenbrunn as director (1898-1903) with a performance of H. von Kleist's drama "Die Hermannsschlacht". Initially a stage devoted to the spoken word, the theatre included operas and musical comedies in its repertory under the directorship of R. Simons (1903-1917). The directors R. Mader (1917-1919) and F. Weingartner (1919-1924) raised the standards of performance and gave the theatre a sophisticated repertory so that it became Vienna's second internationally renowned opera house. In 1928, however, the theatre went bankrupt. Between 1929 and 1931, under J. Feldhammer and O. L. Preminger, it bore the name "Neues Wiener Schauspielhaus", performing non-musical dramas, and later predominantly light operettas. In 1938, the house was taken over by the City of Vienna as "Opernhaus der Stadt Wien". After 1945, both the Volksoper and the Theater an der Wien were used for State Opera performances, and the Volksoper joined the newly founded Association of Federal Theatres under Director H. Juch (1946-1955). From 1956-1963, the house was managed by F. Salmhofer, A. Moser (1963-1973), K. Dönch (1973-1987), E. Waechter (1987-1992) I. Holender (1987-1996), K. Bachler (1996-1999), and D. Mentha (since 1999), who sought to restore the theatre's independent repertory with emphasis on operetta and the musical. The theatre has also successfully staged ballets and operas outside the classical-romantic repertory. Since the Austrian Federal Theatres became a holding company in 1999, the V. has been operated as a limited liability company. Under D. Mentha modern dance theatre and 20^th century opera have also become part of the programme.

Literature: O. Fritz (ed.), 95 Jahre Wiener Volksoper, 1993; K. Bachler, Die Volksoper, 1998.