Leipzig: Neues Theater

Country: Germany (Deutschland)
State: Sachsen
City: Leipzig
Location: Augustusplatz

Built 1864-1868 by Carl Ferdinand Langhans. Opened 28 Jan 1868 with Goethe's "Iphigenie auf Tauris". 1929 alteration of orchestra pit, installation of a rehearsal stage. 1934 alterations of entrance hall. 1935-1938 rebuilding and modernization of stagehouse. 1939 foyer restorations. Used for opera and ballet performances of the resident municipal theatre companies. Originally 1700 seats (+ 300 standing); 1940: 1543 seats. Destroyed by bombs on 3/4 Dec 1943. Remains demolished in 1956.

[1956-1960 the "Opernhaus" was built on the site. In 1993, sculptures from the original building's tympanon were put on display in the park near the theatre.]

Notable world premieres:

  • Andreas Hallén: Harald der Wiking (16 OCt 1881)
  • Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 (30 Dec 1884)
  • Carl Maria von Weber/Gustav Mahler: Die drei Pintos (20 Jan 1888)
  • Ethel Smyth: The Wreckers (11 Nov 1906)
  • Franz Lehár: Der Schlüssel zum Paradies (20 Oct 1906)
  • Ernst Krenek: Jonny spielt auf (10 Feb 1927)
  • Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek: Satuala ( 4 Dec 1927)
  • Kurt Weill: Der Zar läßt sich photographieren (18 Feb 1928)
  • Eugen d'Albert: Die schwarze Orchidee (1 Dec 1928)
  • Ernst Krenek: Leben des Orest (19 Jan 1930)
  • Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill: Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (9 Mar 1930)
  • Paul Abraham: Viktoria und ihr Husar (1930)
  • Paul Abraham: Die Blume von Hawaii (24 July 1931)
  • Carl Orff: Catulli Carmina (6 July 1943)

Leipzig: Neues Theater / Lortzing-Haus Front Text: "Herzlichen Gruß Von Haus zu Haus", "Neues Theater Leipzig", "Lortzing-Haus Leipzig"
Publisher: Von Haus zu Haus
Type: Advertisement postcard for the magazine "Von Haus zu Haus"; Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Würzburg to Bonn, 1898

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Gruss aus Leipzig", "Das neue Theater"
Type: Moonlight Card; Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Leipzig to Lichtenfels, 1899

Leipzig: Neues Theater Picture: rear view from the Schwanenteich pond
Front Text: "Gruss aus Leipzig", "Theater Schwanenteich"
Type: Moonlight Card; Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Weimar to Braunschweig, 1898

Leipzig: Neues Theater Picture: rear view from the Schwanenteich pond
Front Text: "Leipzig, Neues Theater m. Schwanenteich"
Publisher: Louis Glaser, Leipzig; 5012
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Leipzig to Berlin, 1899

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Leipzig, Neues Theater"
Publisher: Bruno Bürger & Ottilie, Lith. Anst., Leipzig; Künstler-Ansichtskarte; No. 2047
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Leipzig to Mainz, 1900

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Leipzig, Neues Theater"
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Leipzig to Rochlitz, 1919

Leipzig: Neues Theater Picture: Mendebrunnen fountain, background: Neues Theater
Front Text: "Mendebrunnen"
Reverse Text: "Leipzig"
Publisher: Vereinigter Leipziger Bahnhofs-Buchhandel G.m.b.H., Leipzig
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Leipzig to Zuffenhausen bei Stuttgart, 1929

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Reichsmessestadt Leipzig, Neues Theater"
Publisher: Graph. Kunstv. W. Mohr, Leipzig
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Leipzig, Neues Theater"
Publisher: PM
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Leipzig im Lichterschein, Neues Theater"
Publisher: Verlag Karl Cramer, Leipzig
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Leipzig: Neues Theater Front Text: "Teilansicht aus einem Bühnen Regel- Transformatorenraum im Neuen Theater Leipzig" [detail view from a backstage variable transformer room]
Reverse Text: "Serie I. RAPID-Rohrdrähte u. ihre Anwendung"
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Sent: by German Forces' Postal Service, from Husum to Buxtehude (1943)

Leipzig: Neues Theater Picture: remains after World War II
Front Text: "Leipzig: Opera Ruins"
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Not sent.

Leipzig: Neues Theater Picture: socialist demonstration on Augustusplatz, 1 May 1946
Reverse Text: "Teilaufnahme vom 1. Friedensmai 1946 in Leipzig auf dem Karl-Marx-Platz. 200 000 Leipziger demonstrierten gegen Reaktion und Faschismus für Frieden und Völkerversöhnung."
Publisher: SED Kreis Leipzig, Leipzig C1, Karl-Marx-Platz 7 (Europahaus); Leipzig M 306
Size: Modern
Not sent.


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