Of course there is no opera in Vienna in the summer. But this also means that the opera house tour allowed us to see back stage. The building and the history were impressive.
Walking up the grand staircase. This is the oldest part of the building that survived allied bombs during WWII.
The curtain on the apron of the stage is really a steel (fire proof) garage door. It is 11 meters high and can be raised to the ceiling. The painting on the curtain is changed once per year.
Back stage the ceiling is 25 meters high ceiling so sets can be raised and lowered. The floor under the stage is also 11 meters deep so sets can be lowered on hydraulic lifts. The orchestra pit can accommodate 120 musicians. Notice the person on the right side of the picture. There is a fire fighter on duty back stage 24/7. All the sets are warehoused and trucked in for performances. Some shows require 35 truck loads and up to 100 stage hands. This does not include dealing with costumes.
Having a box seat is not great. The sight lines to the stage are at an angle. From the back of the box you cannot see the stage. Back in the day, it was more important to be seen than to be able to see the opera.
The intermission room, in marble, is one of many beautiful spaces in the building.
Some of the more recognizable opera stars....
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| Carmen |
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| The Barber of Seville |
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| Don Giovanni |
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