Komische Oper Berlin
Specializing in German language productions of opera and musicals, the Komische Oper is an opera company based in Berlin. The company is operated by the Berliner Opernstiftung and was founded by Walter Felsenstein who directed it until his death in 1975. The Komische Oper theatre is situated near Berlin's major thoroughfare, the Unter den Linden. The theatre originally opened on Sept. 24, 1892 as ěTheaer Unter den Linden.î It was designed by Hermann Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner. In 1896, the theatre was shut down due to bankruptcy. It reopened in 1898 as Meropol-Theater. From this time on, the venue became one of Berlin's most famous variety theatres. It again shut down in 1933. The theatre was nationalized and renamed in 1934. Eleven years later, the auditorium was damaged during World War II. More damage occurred in 1945, after another bombing. By 1947, the theatre was completely repaired and reopened as the Komische Opre. The building was completely rebuilt between 1965 and 1966. These renovations included the addition of extensions to the building and an entirely new exterior. The structure was again renovated in 1986 and was modernized with stage technology in 1989. Today, the theatre can house up to 1,270 guests.
