Berlin State Opera, Opera house on Unter den Linden, Berlin, Germany
The Berlin State Opera is a freestanding opera house on Unter den Linden in Berlin's Mitte district. Its pale pink facade has a rusticated grey stone base with three arched entrances, six fluted columns with ornate capitals, and a triangular pediment with a relief of figures. The frieze reads "FRIDERICVS REX APOLLINI ET MVSIS"; a flag-bearing statue crowns the roof.
King Frederick the Great commissioned architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff to design the building, and it opened in 1742 as the first freestanding opera house built in Germany. After wartime destruction, it was rebuilt several times and underwent extensive renovation between 2010 and 2017.
The house is nicknamed Lindenoper after the boulevard, and its portico inscription reads FRIDERICVS REX APOLLINI ET MVSIS, "King Frederick to Apollo and the Muses". The Staatskapelle Berlin, whose roots reach back to the 16th century, has played for the opera since its opening on 7 December 1742, when Carl Heinrich Graun's Cesare e Cleopatra was performed.
Performances usually begin in the early evening, and dress codes range from smart casual to formal attire. The building is accessible for visitors with mobility needs, and arriving at least 30 minutes before showtime helps locate seats comfortably.
The Staatskapelle Berlin, the house orchestra, is one of the oldest ensembles in the world and has existed for more than 450 years. This group accompanies performances here and also gives independent symphony concerts around the city.
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