Staatstheater Stuttgart
The Staatstheater Stuttgart comprises two venues: the Stuttgart Opera House and the newer, smaller Stuttgart Drama Theatre, both located in the German city of Stuttgart, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The opera house is used mainly by the Stuttgart Opera and the Stuttgart Ballet, while plays are presented in the smaller theatre.
Architecture
Designed by the noted Munich architect Max Littmann, who won a competition to create new royal theatres, the building was constructed between 1909 and 1912 as the Königliche Hoftheater, royal theatre of the Kingdom of Württemberg with a Grosses Haus and a Kleines Haus.In 1919, the theatres were renamed to Landestheater, and later Staatstheater. The house for drama theatre, Kleines Haus, was destroyed by bombing during World War II, and today, the site is occupied by a new Kleines Haus, designed by Hans Volkart, which opened in 1962.
The Opera House, is one of only a few German opera houses to survive the bombing of World War II. Between 1982 and 1984, extensive work restored the venue to its original condition and it now seats 1,404. In 2001, the theatre buildings were renamed Opernhaus and Schauspielhaus.
General directors
Walter Erich Schäfer was managing director from 1949 to 1972.As of 2015, three general directors are collectively responsible for the Staatstheater Stuttgart: Jossi Wieler, Reid Anderson, and Armin Petras, and the managing director Marc-Oliver Hendriks. General directors, especially artistic directors of operas or drama theatres, are called Intendant in Germany.
Canadian dancer Reid Anderson became director of the ballet in the 1996/1997 season.