Built 1741-1743 by as "Königliches Opernhaus" by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff for the Prussian King, Friedrich II. Opened 7 Dec 1742 with Graun's "Cleopatra e Cesare". The building comprised three separate halls: the foyer and banquet hall "Apollosaal", the "Tanz- und Theatersaal" (used as main auditorium for opera performances), and the "Korinthischer Saal" (used as stage for opera performances), all of which could be linked mechanically to form one big festive hall.

1787 auditorium rebuilding, installation of proscenium boxes and a royal box, modernization of stage technology (with destruction of the original "Korinthischer Saal") by Carl Gotthard Langhans. Auditorium destroyed by a fire in 1843. 1843-1844 auditorium rebuilding, rebuilding of concert hall "Apollosaal", and extension of the stagehouse by Carl Ferdinand Langhans. Re-opened 7 Dec 1844 with Meyerbeer's "Das Feldlager in Schlesien". 1867-1869 extension of the stagehouse to the south by Carl Ferdinand Langhans. 1910 extension of the stagehouse by a fly tower. 1919 renamed "Staatsoper". 1926-1928 crosswise extension of the stagehouse by two side wings, auditorium renovations, reduction of "Apollosaal" by E. Fürstenau. After the 1910 and 1926-1928 rebuidlings, hardly any resemblance with Knobelsdorff's original building remained (with the exception of the main façade). Damaged by bombs on 9/10 Apr 1941. Rebuilt 1941-1942 by E. Meffert. Again destroyed by bombs on 3 Feb 1945. From 1945 to 1955, the opera company performed in the "Theater im Admiralspalast" (today's "Metropol-Theater").

1952-1955 rebuilt as "Deutsche Staatsoper" by Richard Paulick. Exterior rebuilt as a compromise between Knobelsdorff's original designs and the needs of modern opera productions, i. e. side stage wings and a fly tower. "Apollosaal" (250 seats) rebuilt freely after Knobelsdorff's designs for the "Parolesaal" of the Sanssouci palace in Potsdam. Auditorium rebuilt freely after Knobelsdorff's designs for the original theatre and various interior decorations in Potsdam. 1400 seats. Re-opened 4 Sep 1955 with Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg".

In the mid-1990s renamed "Staatsoper Unter den Linden". Used for performances of the resident state opera and ballet companies.

Notable world premieres:

• Carl Heinrich Graun: Cleopatra e Cesare (7 Dec 1742)
• Carl Heinrich Graun: Artaserse (2 Dec 1743)
• Carl Heinrich Graun: Demofoonte, Re di Tracia (17 Jan 1746)
• Carl Heinrich Graun: Montezuma (6 Jan 1755)
• Johann Friedrich Reichardt: Die Geisterinsel (6 July 1798)
• Johann Friedrich Reichardt: Lieb und Treue (31 Mar 1800)
• Johann Friedrich Reichardt: Jery und Bäteli (30 Mar 1801)
• Gasparo Spontini: Alcidor (23 May 1825)
• Gasparo Spontini: Agnese di Hohenstaufen (12 June 1829)
• Heinrich Marschner: Hans Heiling (24 May 1833)
• Giacomo Meyerbeer: Das Feldlager in Schlesien (7 Dec 1844)
• Otto Nicolai: Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (9 Mar 1849)
• Wilhelm Kienzl: Der Evangelimann (4 May 1895)
• Albert Lortzing: Regina (with altered libretto, 21 Mar 1899)
• Ethel Smyth: Der Wald (9 Apr 1902)
• Ruggiero Leoncavallo: Der Roland von Berin (13 Dec 1904)
• Franz Schmidt: Fredigundis (19 Dec 1922)
• Ernst Krenek: Die Zwingburg (21 Oct 1924)
• Alban Berg: Wozzeck (14 Dec 1925)
• Franz Schreker: Der singende Teufel (10 Dec 1928)
• Darius Milhaud: Christophe Colomb (5 May 1930)
• Hans Pfitzner: Das Herz (12 Nov 1931)
• Eduard Künneke: Die große Sünderin (31 Dec 1935)
• Mark Lothar: Schneider Wibbel (12 May 1938)
• Werner Egk: Peer Gynt (24 Nov 1938)
• Rudolf Wagner-Régeny: Die Bürger von Calais (28 Jan 1939)
• Paul Dessau: Das Verhör des Lukullus (17 Mar 1951)
• Paul Dessau: Puntila (15 Nov 1966)
• Paul Dessau: Lanzelot (19 Dec 1969)
• Paul Dessau: Einstein (16 Feb 1974)
• Friedrich Goldmann: R. Hot bzw. Die Hitze (at Apollosaal, 27 Feb 1977)
• Siegfried Matthus: Graf Mirabeau (14 July 1989)

Link: www.staatsoper-unter-den-linden.de

For postcards showing the Staatsoper building before 1900, see
Staatsoper Unter den Linden: Modern Repro Postcards