{{Infobox building | name = Theater St. Gallen | native_name = Theater St. Gallen | native_name_lang = German | image = StGallen asv2022-10 Blick von StLaurenzen img5.jpg | image_caption = The Theater St. Gallen | pushpin_map = Canton of St. Gallen#Switzerland | alternate_names = Grosses Haus | status = complete | building_type = [[Theater]] | architectural_style = | address = Museumstrasse 24 | location_city = [[St. Gallen]] | location_country = [[Switzerland]] | coordinates = {{coord|47|25|37|N|9|22|50|E|region:CH-SG_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=title, inline}} | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | opened_date = 15 March 1968 | cost = | height = | seating_capacity = 742 | architect = [[Claude Paillard]] | website = {{URL|http://www.theatersg.ch/de/}} | embedded = {{Infobox historic site | embed = yes | designation1 = Swiss }} }}
The '''Theater St. Gallen''' is a [[performing arts center]] for opera, musical, ballet, and theatre in [[St. Gallen]], [[Switzerland]], and considered to be the oldest professional [[theatre]] in Switzerland.<ref name=TSG>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatersg.ch/wDeutsch/theater/unser_haus/geschichte.asp?navid=110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411044410/http://www.theatersg.ch/wDeutsch/theater/unser_haus/geschichte.asp?navid=110 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2009 |title=Unser Haus |author=Theater St. Gallen|language=German |accessdate=April 12, 2009}}</ref> It is a Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.babs.admin.ch/de/aufgabenbabs/kgs/inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=German |accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref>
== History == Although the monks [[Tutilo]] and [[Notker the Stammerer|Notker]] already inspired briefly lay theatre in St. Gallen during the Middle Ages, theatre did not flourish for a long time because of moral concerns. In the early 19th century interest in theatre was reawakened. After the first performance on 14 October 1801, in modest surroundings, a "Theater Stock Company" was founded in 1805 to support a local professional theatre group. When they needed a larger place for their performances, the architect Johann Christoph Kunkler built a theater into which the group moved in 1857. This "Kunkler-Bau" remained the home of the formerly called ''Stadttheater St. Gallen'' for 111 years until 1968.<ref name=TSG/> The building was then demolished. [[File:St Gallen Theater Treppe.jpg|left|thumb|The staircase]]
The current building was designed by the Swiss architect Claude Paillard and inaugurated with Beethoven's ''[[Fidelio]]'' on 15 March 1968.<ref name=TSG/> The building houses two stages, the larger one allows 742 persons and the studio 100 persons to attend.
With the construction of the new building, the stock company was replaced by a consortium with participation of the town of St. Gallen and its canton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaterschweiz.ch/index.php?id=245| title=Theatre in Switzerland |author=Theaterschweiz |language=German |accessdate=April 13, 2009}}</ref> Surrounding communities thereafter joined in the venture. The "Genossenschaft Konzert und Theater St. Gallen" ("Cooperative for concert and theatre of St. Gallen") is since 2000 the supporting organization for the orchestre and theatre of St. Gallen. The "Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen" therefore provides orchestral support for operas and musicals.
Each year about 20 new productions are introduced. Among them, in 2009, the theater featured the world premiere of ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo (Wildhorn musical)|The Count of Monte Cristo]]'', a musical by [[Frank Wildhorn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tagblatt.ch/aktuell/kultur/kultur/Im-Musical-Himmel;art624,1267733|title=Im Musical-Himmel|publisher=St. Galler Tagblatt|date=February 24, 2009|language=German|accessdate=April 13, 2009}}</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126412.html Borchert to Star in World Premiere of Wildhorn's Count of Monte Cristo"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425033936/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126412.html |date=2009-04-25 }}, playbill.com, February 18, 2009</ref> The theatre's 390 annual performances are seen by about 140,000 attendees.
''[[Lili Elbe (opera)|Lili Elbe]]'', composed by [[Tobias Picker]], will premiere in St. Gallen in 2023-24 Season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tobiaspicker.com/opera/lili-elbe|title=Lili Elbe|publisher=tobiaspicker.com|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=18 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018054829/https://tobiaspicker.com/opera/lili-elbe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Living Authentically|author=Charles Shafaieh|url=https://operanews.com/Living_Authentically/|access-date=2022-09-11|website=[[Opera News]]|archive-date=18 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018054824/https://operanews.com/Living_Authentically/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Lucia Lucas: The BBC Music Magazine Interview|author=Richard Cannon|url=https://www.classical-music.com/magazine/issues/may-2023/|access-date=2023-09-11|website=[[BBC Music Magazine]]}}</ref>
==References== <references/>
==Further reading == * {{Theaterlexikon|Theater St. Gallen, St. Gallen SG|3|1883|1886|author=Silke Christiane Keckeis}}
==External links== *[http://www.theatersg.ch/ Official website] {{commons category|Theater St. Gallen}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Theater Saint Gallen}} [[Category:Buildings and structures in St. Gallen (city)|Theater St. Gallen]] [[Category:Theatres in Switzerland]] [[Category:Opera houses in Switzerland]] [[Category:Dance in Switzerland]] [[Category:Performing arts centres]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in St. Gallen (city)|Theater St. Gallen]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1801]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1857]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1968]] [[Category:Music venues completed in 1968]] [[Category:1801 establishments in Europe]] [[Category:Cultural property of national significance in the canton of St. Gallen]] [[Category:19th-century architecture in Switzerland]] [[Category:20th-century architecture in Switzerland]]