“Welcome to Leipzig” Podcast Episode 8 - Leipzig Opera: Something for everyone

It really gets going right away, because Paula and Axel start the podcast where you can't get to as a "normal visitor": backstage. A look behind the scenes one of the oldest operas in the world It is noticeable that here the adrenaline of the dancers and singers is already in the air. dancer Natasa Dudar knows the excitement before the performances at the opera, because she has been part of the Leipzig Ballet.

So that performances To ensure that the dances always run smoothly, the dancers have to train daily. Natasa reports how important this is for the athletes in order not to lose the necessary fitness, strength and flexibility to lose. Looking at the Ballet training on the 4th floor of the opera house it quickly becomes clear how much Discipline the profession demands.

The Leipzig Ballet Ensemble consists 36 dancers, although the number varies slightly depending on the season. In addition to the obligatory rehearsals, individual strength training and injury prevention are on the agenda. Natasa also talks about how much she gets back from her performances. Dancing helps her to reflect, express oneself and with the help of the various movements immerse yourself in other worlds to be able to.

Before the performances, everyone in the ensemble his own ritualsMany people think about the different movements and Processes From Natasa’s point of view, every performance is unique, even if rarely is everything really perfect But when the orchestra plays at exactly the right tempo to the movements and you have the moment to focus your attention on the big stage with the lights, the Audience and other dancers, then she has her perfect stage moment.

Afterwards, Paula meets the director of the Leipzig Opera, Prof. Schirmer. He gives insights into his large director's lodge, which consists of several rooms. At the front you can directly into the auditorium Behind it is a living room, as Prof. Schirmer calls it, with a smaller meeting room. In addition, the lodge has a large meeting area for a total of 25 people and the cloakroom. Before Prof. Schirmer became artistic director in 2011, he had already been General Music Director of the Leipzig Opera. So of course the house was not unknown to him.

For this reason, Prof. Schirmer is also familiar with the history of the opera house This is a New Build from the years 1959/60. A house previously stood on the same site, which was bombed. Review The director especially remembers the work of Joachim Herz and his predecessor Udo Zimmermann.

All under one roof

Im large opera house On Augustusplatz are the Opera and balletAlthough these art forms fit together well, both still have their own areas in the house. Leipzig Ballet with one of the largest companies his own program with 40 major performances a year and rarely takes part in opera performances. The opera ensemble is not so big, which is why it likes to play with guests at the 90 annual performances. One of the closest cooperations of the Leipzig Opera is with the Gewandhausorchester, which actively accompanies the various pieces and performances.

In addition, the "Firma Oper Leipzig" also includes the Venue Musical Comedy Theatre in Lindenau and the workshops in a Leipzig industrial park. The Leipzig Opera employs a total of 700 people.

At the Leipzig Opera, visitors are offered a total of wide Program offered so that people across all generations Students are the third largest group of visitors to the opera house. They can use the Junge Oper Leipzig Card But also for all other opera lovers there is the Opera Card great discounts

Prof. Schirmer reports on the broad spectrum of events and performancesFor opera lovers, for example, themed weekends offered. Also for the New Gothic audience, which takes place at Pentecost on the occasion of Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig, special events are always planned. According to the artistic director, in previous years they have always had a particular preference for the performance of Der Rosenkavalier.