{"id":1083,"date":"2019-10-07T05:30:19","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T04:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=1083"},"modified":"2025-09-06T16:41:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T15:41:12","slug":"volksoper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/opera\/volksoper\/","title":{"rendered":"The Volksoper"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024small.jpg\" alt=\"Fa\u00e7ade of the Volksoper\" class=\"wp-image-69892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024small.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024small-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>With the word, <em>Volksoper<\/em>, stamped in giant lettering across its fa\u00e7ade, there&#8217;s no doubting this building&#8217;s purpose. The &#8220;people&#8217;s opera&#8221; is the youngest member of Vienna&#8217;s trio of opera houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First opened in 1898<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Known for its operettas, but also hosts full operas, musicals, and ballet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English subtitles for many productions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Opera\" rel=\"sponsored\">classical concert experience<\/a>* for your trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/activities\/opera-in-vienna\/\">Opera in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/classical-concert\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5359\">Concert venues<\/a> in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/shows-and-musicals\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84036\">Shows &amp; musicals<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The people&#8217;s opera house<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024b.jpg\" alt=\"Front view of the Volksoper\" class=\"wp-image-69891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024b.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024b-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The fa\u00e7ade includes a helpful tip for package delivery services looking for the right address)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you first spot the building, perched on the edge of the busy G\u00fcrtel ring road that carries traffic across Vienna, you might think it rather modern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Volksoper is indeed younger than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/opera\/staatsoper\/\">Staatsoper<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/opera\/theater-wien\/\">Theater an der Wien<\/a> opera houses. However, it also possesses a rich cultural history and pedigree; the Viennese operatic family has no ugly stepchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A brief timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Today&#8217;s opera house opened in 1898 as the <em>Kaiser-Jubil\u00e4ums-Stadttheater<\/em>, initially as a theatre dedicated to the spoken word.  A report on the 1902\/1903 season revealed 16 world premieres for the year as well as a place in the repertoire for a certain English playwright named William Shakespeare.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/volksoper1899.jpg\" alt=\"The Volksoper in 1899\" class=\"wp-image-57968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/volksoper1899.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/volksoper1899-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Volksoper around 1899 shortly after construction finished, as photographed by August Stauda; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 105018\/63; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The programme soon expanded to other genres, beginning an evolution that led to today&#8217;s international reputation as an established venue for opera, operetta, ballet and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/shows-and-musicals\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84036\">musicals<\/a>, which form the four cornerstones of the repertoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The history is a touch less colourful than that of the Volksoper&#8217;s older colleagues, but the institution still has its own claims to fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the composer Zemlinsky once held the position of Musical Director here. And, like the Theater an der Wien, the building provided a temporary home to the bombed-out Staatsoper post-WWII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp238032\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_ConcTour\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In common with the Staatsoper, the Volksoper also hosts a different production each day, an approach made possible by an in-house ensemble, extensive supporting staff, and four rehearsal stages in addition to the main 480m\u00b2 stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So a random four days in the calendar might start with <em>Orpheus in the Underworld<\/em> (operetta), followed by <em>Cabaret<\/em> (musical) and <em>Peter Pan<\/em> (ballet) the following two nights, before ending with <em>The Magic Flute<\/em> (opera).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather nicely, the stage is topped by a supertitle facility. This displays English subtitles for many of the German-language productions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024a.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to the Volksoper\" class=\"wp-image-69890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024a.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/volksoper2024a-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Above the main entrance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Volksoper occupies a particular niche as the traditional home of the operetta, a genre with a strong connection to Vienna and Austria thanks to the works of such folk as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/johann-strauss\/\">Johann Strauss Jr.<\/a> (think of <em>Die Fledermaus<\/em>) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/franz-lehar\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"39818\">Franz Leh\u00e1r<\/a> (<em>The Merry Widow<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The building&#8217;s cultural reach even extends to the silver screen, where it played the role of a theatre in Bratislava for the 15th James Bond film: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/songsfilms\/jamesbondlivingdaylights\/\">The Living Daylights<\/a>. It also appeared as itself in the controversial 1974 Italian drama, <em>The Night Porter<\/em>, alongside Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>P.S. If looking for refreshment before or after a performance, consider the nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/cafe-schopenhauer\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"63676\">Caf\u00e9 Schopenhauer<\/a>, one of Vienna&#8217;s better <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7689\">coffee houses<\/a>. (Try the Gugelhupf.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Volksoper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although not quite as central as the other two opera houses, one advantage of the Volksoper&#8217;s location is the numerous forms of transport that stop more or less outside. A big plus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/weather\/rain\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84891\">should it be raining<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: take the U6 to the station W\u00e4hringer Stra\u00dfe-Volksoper just opposite the opera house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The station building, with its classic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/otto-wagner-in-vienna\/\">Otto Wagner design<\/a>, dates back to the old Vienna Stadtbahn city train line that was built around the same time as its operatic companion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram\/bus: three tram lines leave from the Schottentor station in the centre and stop at W\u00e4hringer Stra\u00dfe-Volksoper (the 40, 41 and 42). The 40A bus also drops you off at that station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: W\u00e4hringer Stra\u00dfe 78, 1090 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.volksoper.at\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1BrCYLfHiiy85k0jpzDwlKspb31KiYq4Y\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the word, Volksoper, stamped in giant lettering across its fa\u00e7ade, there&#8217;s no doubting this building&#8217;s purpose. The &#8220;people&#8217;s opera&#8221; is the youngest member of Vienna&#8217;s trio of opera houses. The people&#8217;s opera house (The fa\u00e7ade includes a helpful tip for package delivery services looking for the right address) When you first spot the building, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69892,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1083","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-opera","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1083"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85610,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1083\/revisions\/85610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}