Opera in Berlin

At the end of the 17th century the opera moved into the German-speaking area and the first opera houses were built in Munich, Dresden, Hamburg and Leipzig. The history of German opera is mainly marked by Mozart, Weber, Wagner, Handel.
The opera performances were initially reserved for the middle classes, the nobility and the royal court. The result was sophisticated opera houses with a lot of pomp and circumstance. Great stage sets, impressive costumes and imaginative masks made the performances a grandiose social experience. In the course of time, so-called folk operas developed, which were accessible to a broad audience.
In the present day, opera performances are an integral part of everyday cultural life, the solemn dress code has become somewhat less important - apart from major performances of high social and political significance such as important premieres or festivals - for example in Salzburg or the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth.
Berlin today has a significantly higher number of opera houses than other European metropolises. The well-known opera houses in Berlin such as Deutsche Oper, Komische Oper, Staatsoper and Konzerthaus enjoy great popularity, on the one hand because of the internationally known and famous musicians, conductors, soloists and dramaturges and on the other hand because of the architectural beauty and the incomparable flair of the individual houses.
In addition to the typical opera classics, Berlin is increasingly staging post-modern performances with purist equipment to appeal to younger audiences and to find new opera fans.