History of the house

1892 …
Designed by the Austrian architects Helmer and Fellner, the house known today as the »Komische Oper« (Comic Opera) opens under the name »Theater Unter den Linden«.
Theatre has been performed on this historic site – near the famous boulevard Unter den Linden – since 1764. Here German theatre companies under the direction of Schuch, Koch and Döbbelin premiered plays by Goethe (Götz von Berlichingen, 1774) and Lessing (Nathan der Weise, 1783) as well as German Singspiele by Hiller, André and Gluck and opéras comiques by Grétry, Salieri and Paisiello.

1898 …
After the bankrupcy of the Theater Unter den Linden, the theatre reopens as the Metropol-Theater. Until the outbreak of World War One the theatre is the venue of the famous Metropole Revues. After 1918 it is primarily an operetta theatre with singers and performers like Fritzi Massary, Max Pallenberg and Richard Tauber. A large number of successful operettas receive their premiere here, among them Franz Lehár’s »Das Land des Lächelns« (»The Land of Smile«) in 1929.

1934 …
The house, closed since 1933, reopens in 1934 as a part of the Nazi »Kraft durch Freude« organisation. Premieres include Maske in Blau (»Mask in Blue«), operetta by Fred Raymond.

1945 …
A bomb completely destroys the entrance area and the ceiling painting, but the auditorium survives intact.

1946 …
Reconstruction commences.

1947 …
The Komische Oper is founded by the Austrian director WalterFelsenstein and opened on December 23 with his production of DieFledermaus by Johann Strauß. The name of the house refers to the Frenchopéra comique tradition of the late 18th century and to Berlin’s firs tKomische Oper under Hans Gregor on Weidendammer Brücke (1905-1911)which also was inspired by this tradition. Felsenstein’s approach totheatre quickly wins recognition around the world; his productions cometo be seen as exemplary for their rigorous musical-dramatic unity, forthe close interpretative correspondence between the staging and the music. Famous productions by Felsenstein include: The Cunning Little Vixen, Otello, The Tales of Hoffmann, La traviata, Barbe bleue, Fiddler on the Roof, etc.
The Komische Oper orchestra, established in1947 under Leo Spies, played under the baton - in symphony concerts aswell as opera - of many distinguished conductors, among them Otto Klemperer, Rudolf Kempe, Arthur Grüber, Václav Neumann and Kurt Masur.

1965 …
Extension of the Komische Oper Berlin building on Behrenstraße.

1966 …
The house reopens with Don Giovanni directed by Walter Felsenstein. The Dance Theatre is established under the direction of chief choreographerTom Schilling.

1975 …
Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro is the last production by Walter Felsenstein, who dies on October 8. He is succeeded as general director and principal director by Joachim Herz.

1981 …
A new artistic management is appointed: Werner Rackwitz (general director), Harry Kupfer (principal director and opera director) andRolf Reuter (chief conductor).

1986 …
The neo-Baroque auditorium, which seats 1270, is restored and placed on the list of protected monuments.

1994 …
Albert Kost becomes general director, and Yakov Kreizberg becomes chief conductor and later general music director. Jan Linkens and MarcYonkers take over artistic direction of the Dance Theatre. Harry Kupfer remains principal director and opera director.

1997 …
The Komische Oper Berlin celebrates its 50th jubilee.

1999 …
The British choreographer Richard Wherlock becomes the new chiefchoreographer and ballet director; the Dance Theatre is renamedBerlinBallett – Komische Oper.

2001 …
Blanca Li becomes chief choreographer and ballet director; in summer2002 Li is followed by Adolphe Binder as ballet director.

2002/03 …
Andreas Homoki becomes new chief stage director.

2003/04 …
Andreas Homoki succeeds Albert Kost and becomes also commisionary general director with the season 2003/04. Together with Per Boye Hansen (opera director) and the general music director Kirill Petrenko, who was appointed as new GMD from the beginning of the 2002/03 season.

2004/05 …
Andreas Homoki is new general director (Intendant) of the Komische Oper Berlin.

2006/07 ...
Kirill Petrenko is leaving the Komische Oper Berlin. Carl St. Clair is announced general music director with the season 2008/09.

2007/08 ...
The Komische Oper Berlin is ›Opera house of the year‹, Kirill Petrenkois ›Conductor of the year‹, the Chorsoloists are ›Choir of the year‹ –this is the result of the annual survey of the magazine »Opernwelt« for the season 2006/07.

2008/09 ...
Carl St. Clair becomes general music director of the Komische Oper Berlin.

2009/10 ...
Carl St. Clair is leaving the house at the end of the 2009/10 season. Intendant Andreas Homoki appoints Patrick Lange as new chief conductor with the season 2010/11.