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TheOpéra national du Rhin is anopera company which performs inAlsace, eastern France. It includes the Opéras inStrasbourg, inMulhouse, where theBallet de l'Opéra national du Rhin, also known as theBallet Du Rhin, is based, and inColmar, with its Opéra Studio, a training centre for young singers. Thee organisation has held the status of "national opera" since 1997.
TheOrchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg and theOrchestre symphonique de Mulhouse are the usual orchestras of this institution.
The first opera house opened in Strasbourg in 1701 in a convertedgranary. After a fire and temporary locations, a new Théâtre municipal opened in the Place Broglie in 1821.This building was virtually gutted during the German bombardment of 1870, but it was rebuilt in identical style, re-opening in 1873.[1] In early 2023 the mayor of Strasbourg announced that the Théâtre municipal would close from 2026 to 2029 for "complete reconstruction".[2]
During the German era up to 1919, several eminent conductors held posts at the Strasbourg opera:Hans Pfitzner (1910–19),Wilhelm Furtwängler (1910–11),Otto Klemperer (1914–17) andGeorge Szell (1917–1919). From 1919–38Paul Bastide was musical director; he returned after the Second World War with notable stagings ofBéatrice et Bénédict (first French staging), andMartine by Rabaud (premiere).[1]
From 1948–53, under Roger Lalande, the theatre saw the first French productions ofPeter Grimes (1949),Mathis der Maler (1951), andThe Rake's Progress (1952). The spirit of innovation continued underFrédéric Adam, director from 1955–72 – aRing with Birgit Nilsson and French premieres ofIl prigioniero,Oedipus rex,Jenůfa,Die Frau ohne Schatten andDalibor; there was also a production ofLes Troyens.[1]
The merger to form the Opéra du Rhin took place in 1972 under the conductorAlain Lombard, with theOrchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg and theOrchestre symphonique de Mulhouse being the performance orchestras in those locations. In the early years, Lombard attempted to revive the repertoire, as well as attract big names such asBirgit Nilsson,Montserrat Caballé,José Carreras,Régine Crespin, andMirella Freni.[3][4]
Since 1985 the Ballet de l'Opéra national du Rhin, or Ballet Du Rhin for short, a national centre forchoreography has been based at theMulhouse Opera.[citation needed]
It has held the status of "national opera" since 1997.[citation needed]
The Opéra Studio, a training centre for young singers, is based at Colmar.
At the end of the 1970s Lombard was succeeded by René Terrasson, a former singer and architect, who also produced some works himself.[3] Since that time, directors have included Laurent Spielmann (1991–1997), Rudolf Berger (1997–2003), andNicholas Snowman (2003–2009). Since 2020, the director has been Alain Perroux, taking over from the suddenly deceasedEva Kleinitz.
48°35′09″N7°45′08″E / 48.5858°N 7.7521°E /48.5858; 7.7521
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