Visitors to the Margrave Opera House in Germany call it a masterpiece, as do professional architects. The Margrave Theater invariably attracts attention with its external decoration; the architectural design of the building is called an example of absolutism and court architecture of the 18th century.
History of creation
The building was commissioned by the Margrave couple Friedrich and Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Kulmbach in Brereut, Germany. They worked on the future opera house in the period from 1746 to 1750. The invited architects were ordered to make the structure look like the opulent opera houses in Vienna, Paris, Venice and Brandenburg.
The Margrave Theater was designed by the famous architect Joseph Saint-Pierre, the interior was created by Giuseppe Galli de Bibiena and his son Carlo.
Built in 1750, the theater is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the artistic direction to this day.
The auditorium is surrounded by three rows of boxes, they symbolize the unity of the estates of the city. The highlight of the building is the luxurious painting and skillful wood carving.
As for theaters built in the 18th-19th centuries, the Margravsky one had an unusually large stage. She at one time and attracted Wagner. And although it later turned out that the size and shape of the hall were not suitable for his performances, the composer ended up staying in Bayreuth. True, he performed in another theater, built especially for him.
In 2021, the Margrave Theater was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The auditorium, stage and boxes of the Margrave Theater have undergone restoration and overhaul. We advise you to check if the theater is open to the public before traveling to the city. Throughout the entire cycle of repair work, an exhibition with 3D equipment worked in the information center, with its help visitors could follow the progress of the restoration of the majestic architectural monument.
Festivals at the Margrave Theater
The Margrave Opera House has been home to many famous festivals. Since 1994, the city has hosted the Bayreuth Easter Festival, and since 2001, the Bayreuth Baroque Festival has also been held. While people are listening to Wagner's works in the neighboring building, real rarities of early opera art come to life on the stage of the Margrave Theater.
For several years, the festival program included a production of an opera by the Italian composer Bernasconi, which he wrote based on a script by Wilhelmina Bayreuth. The theater always pays a lot of attention to the person of Wilhelmina, because it is she who is called the main spiritual sponsor of the Court Theater: the wife of Prince Friedrich of Brandenburg devoted all her free time to the theater, not only watched operas, but herself participated in the formation of the repertoire.
Ticket prices
The Margrave Theater is not only a working opera, but also a real museum of architectural and design arts. Upon completion of the reconstruction, the theater will operate as before.
You can get inside not only during performances, but also on any other day. For the tour, an adult ticket costs 8 euros, groups pay 7 euros per person.
On December 24, 25, 31 and January 1, the theater traditionally does not work. The rest of the time, his schedule remains stable - from 10 am to 4 pm from October to March, from 10 am to 6 pm - from April to September.
Concert ticket prices vary depending on the event and the seats in the hall. For example, for the “European Concert”, which will take place on May 1, the ticket price is 50-200 euros. A ticket to the Prince with a Flute family concert costs 15 to 25 euros.
How to buy tickets
Tickets for visiting the Margrave Opera House can be bought directly in the lobby; you do not need to order them in advance. If you want to get to one of the festivals, the availability of tickets should be checked with the administration personally. For this, a contact phone number +49 (0) 921 75969-22 and a fax number +49 (0) 921 7 59 69-32 are provided for potential guests. You can also find out the current schedule of events and buy tickets online on the official website of the theater http://auftakt.bayreuth.de/.
How to get to the theater
Bayreuth cannot be called a large settlement. The Margrave Theater is located practically in the city center, at Opernstraße, 14 95444 Bayreuth. The Bayreuth Sternplatz Bus Stop is 150 meters away and the Bayreuth Hbf Train Station is 700 meters away. The distance from Nuremberg International Airport to the theater is 85 kilometers.
Tourists should be aware that the Margrave Theater is located in the historic center of the city, close to hotels, the Church of St. George, the city's oldest pharmacy, the New Palace of Bayreuth, the Museum of German Freemasons and some other attractions that Bavaria is famous for.
Conclusion
The Margrave Theater is best known for its unusual interior design. Made of wood, it has almost completely retained its original appearance. The luxury of the decoration literally takes your breath away, the theater is not in vain called royal.
The Margrave Theater was included in the list of UNESCO cultural heritage sites (like the Berlin State Opera), architects and designers continue to study it, the building is considered the most prominent representative of the Baroque and early Rococo styles.
