Cologne Opera

The Cologne Opera stands on Offenbachplatz in the heart of Cologne. The building was designed by Wilhelm Riphahn and opened in 1957. It replaced earlier theatres that were destroyed in the Second World War. The opera house is part of a larger arts complex that also includes the Schauspiel Köln. Both theatres were closed in 2010 for major refurbishment. Performances have since taken place in temporary venues across the city.

The company has a strong tradition of premiering new works. Its first world premiere in the new house was Wolfgang Fortner’s Die Bluthochzeit in 1957. In 2006, Markus Stenz conducted the entire Ring cycle in just two days. Robert Carsen’s staging of Wagner’s Ring was widely praised. The opera also hosted Keith Jarrett’s famous jazz concert in 1975. During the season it presents around twenty-five different operas.

Visitors find a modernist auditorium with 1,300 seats and an orchestra pit for 100 musicians. The foyer once housed the children’s opera, now based in a temporary home. The complex sits beside the Rhine, close to the city’s main railway station. Its clean lines and large windows reflect the post-war spirit of renewal. The surrounding square is a quiet place to pause before or after a performance.