# Graz Opera > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Graz_Opera > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Graz_Opera.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graz_Opera > Source revision: 1279620328 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) The **Graz Opera** ([German](/source/German_language): **Oper Graz**) is an Austrian [opera house](/source/Opera_house) and opera company based in [Graz](/source/Graz). The orchestra of the opera house also performs concerts as the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra (*Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester*). ## History Opera had been performed in Graz since the 17th century, originally in a converted coach house on the [Habsburg](/source/Habsburg) royal estates. The National Theatre (Schauspielhaus Graz), constructed in 1776, saw many early performances of [Mozart](/source/Mozart)'s operas, although today (after many reconstructions) it is devoted to the performances of plays.[1] The city's first dedicated opera house and the immediate predecessor of the Graz Opera was the Thalia Theatre, adapted in 1864 from an old circus hall. Plans for a new theatre suitable to the growing size and importance of the city and intended to be a "new home for German art" were first proposed in 1887.[2] Designed by [Ferdinand Fellner](/source/Ferdinand_Fellner) and [Herman Helmer](/source/Herman_Helmer) in the [neo-baroque](/source/Baroque_Revival_architecture) style, the Graz Opera was inaugurated in 1899 with a performance of Schiller's play *[William Tell](/source/William_Tell_(play))*, followed a few days later by Wagner's opera *[Lohengrin](/source/Lohengrin_(opera))*. The building suffered damage during World War II bombings but was repaired and re-opened after the war. Between 1983 and 1985, it underwent a $15 million renovation which saw the installation of modern equipment and facilities without significantly changing the original exterior and interior of the building.[3] Today, the opera seats around 1,200 people.[4] The current *Intendantin* of the company is Nora Schmid, since 1 January 2015, in succession to [Elisabeth Sobotka](/source/Elisabeth_Sobotka).[5] Schmid is scheduled to stand down as *Intendantin* after the 2022–2023 season.[6] In November 2021, the company announced the appointment of Ulrich Lenz as its next *Intendant*, effective with the 2023–2024 season.[7] Past general music directors (GMD) of the company have included Niksa Bareza (1981–1990), [Philippe Jordan](/source/Philippe_Jordan) (2001–2004), [Johannes Fritzsch](/source/Johannes_Fritzsch) (2006–2013), and [Dirk Kaftan](/source/Dirk_Kaftan) (2013–2017).[8] In the autumn of 2016, [Oksana Lyniv](/source/Oksana_Lyniv) made her first guest-conducting appearance with the company, in a production of *[La traviata](/source/La_traviata)*. In February 2017, the company announced the appointment of Lyniv as its next GMD, effective with the 2017–2018 season. Lyniv is the first female conductor to be named GMD of Graz Opera.[9] She concluded her tenure in Graz at the end of the 2019–2020 season. In December 2018, the company announced the appointment of [Roland Kluttig](/source/Roland_Kluttig) as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2020–2021 season, with an initial contract of 3 seasons.[10][11] Kluttig is scheduled to conclude his tenure at the close of the 2022–2023 season. In December 2022, the company announced the appointment of Vassilis Christopoulos as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023–2024 season.[12] ## General Music Directors (GMD; partial list) - [Herbert Albert](/source/Herbert_Albert) (1950–1952) - [Berislav Klobučar](/source/Berislav_Klobu%C4%8Dar) (1960–1971) - Nikša Bareza (1981–1990) - [Mario Venzago](/source/Mario_Venzago) (1991–1994) - [Philippe Jordan](/source/Philippe_Jordan) (2001–2004) - [Johannes Fritzsch](/source/Johannes_Fritzsch) (2006–2013) - [Dirk Kaftan](/source/Dirk_Kaftan) (2013–2017) - [Oksana Lyniv](/source/Oksana_Lyniv) (2017–2020) - [Roland Kluttig](/source/Roland_Kluttig) (2020–2023) - [Vassilis Christopoulos](/source/Vassilis_Christopoulos) (2023-present) ## References 1. Grazer Opera. [Kurze Geschichte der Grazer Oper (Brief History of Graz Opera)](http://www.theater-graz.com/oper/haus.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111029235846/http://www.theater-graz.com/oper/haus.php) 2011-10-29 at the Wayback Machine (in German) 1. Stråth (1999) pp. 236 and 240 1. Paul Hofmann (1985-12-15). ["Even Graz Can Cut Loose"](https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/15/travel/even-graz-can-cut-loose.html). *New York Times*. Retrieved 2011-10-12. 1. ["Geschichte der Oper Graz"](https://oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com/ihr-besuch/geschichte-der-oper/) (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-02. 1. ["Oper Graz: Schweizerin Schmid wird neue Intendantin"](http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/1387108/Oper-Graz_Schweizerin-Schmid-wird-neue-Intendantin?from=suche.intern.portal). *Die Presse*. 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2013-12-25. 1. ["Intendantin Nora Schmid wechselt mit der Saison 2024/25 an die Semperoper Dresden"](https://oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com/news-details/intendantin-nora-schmid-wechselt-mit-der-saison-202425-an-die-semperoper-dresden). Oper Graz. June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-14. 1. ["Deutscher Dramaturg Ulrich Lenz wird Intendant der Oper Graz"](https://www.diepresse.com/6066541/deutscher-dramaturg-ulrich-lenz-wird-intendant-der-oper-graz). *Die Presse*. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2023-01-04. 1. ["Dirk Kaftan neuer Chefdirigent der Grazer Oper"](http://steiermark.orf.at/news/stories/2571692/). *ORF (Steiermark)*. 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-12-25. 1. ["Oksana Lyniv wird neue Chefdirigentin der Grazer Oper"](http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/5163783/Oksana-Lyniv-wird-neue-Chefdirigentin-der-Grazer-Oper). *Die Presse*. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-03-11. 1. ["Roland Kluttig wird ab 2020/21 Chefdirigent der Grazer Philharmoniker"](https://www.oper-graz.com/news-details/roland-kluttig-wird-ab-202021-chefdirigent-der-grazer-philharmoniker). Oper Graz. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-14.[dead link] 1. ["Deutscher Roland Kluttig wird Chefdirigent in Graz"](https://derstandard.at/2000093407973/Deutscher-Roland-Kluttig-folgt-Oksana-Lyniv-als-Chefdirigent-in-Graz). *Der Standard*. 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2018-12-14. 1. ["Vassilis Christopoulos wird Chefdirigent der Grazer Oper"](https://www.diepresse.com/6230566/vassilis-christopoulos-wird-chefdirigent-der-grazer-oper). *Die Presse*. 2022-12-22. Retrieved 2023-01-04. ## Sources - Stråth, Bo (1999). [*The Postmodern Challenge*](https://books.google.com/books?id=OqFGQ6TUdToC&dq=Thalia+theatre+Graz&pg=PA236). Rodopi. ISBN 90-420-0745-1 ## External links - [Official website of Oper Graz](http://www.oper-graz.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Graz Opera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graz_Opera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graz_Opera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.