opening - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1955 - 2.40 Shilling

Burgtheater and Staatsoper constitute a cultural entity that has contributed significantly to the importance of Austrian art abroad today. Therefore, the reopening of both houses in 1955 is more than the completion of the reconstruction of two historically important houses, but rather a symbol of the rebirth of Austrian cultural consciousness. In the middle of the 18th century, the fates of the Court Opera and the Burgtheater intersected. Both found their home in the theater next to the castle. The Viennese dramatic music was thus born in the old Hofburgtheater. An important event was the relocation of the opera in the Kärntnertortheater in 1810. Here it remained until 25 May 1869, until after eight years of construction with Mozart's "Don Juan" the house was opened, which was called the most ideal opera house in the world and Symbol for Austrian art life has become. Built by the architects Van der Nüll and August Siccard of Siccardsburg, the opera house was severely damaged during World War II. After the war ended in 1945, the restoration of the opera was a priority goal. On November 5, 1955, the reconstructed opera house on the ring with Beethoven's "Fidelio" under the baton of the then director Dr. Karl Böhm opens.