Once the city’s opera house, this building is now a concert hall that hosts some of the world’s greatest classical music ensembles.
The Alte Oper is a faithful reconstruction of a building that was originally opened in 1880, but destroyed in World War II. Take a tour around the building to see its many lavish sculptures, balconies and columns or reserve a seat to attend a performance in this beautiful venue.
For over half a century, the Alte Oper housed productions of Europe’s best operas. It even debuted famous operas like Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
During World War II, the opera house was almost completely destroyed. Its exterior walls remained standing, leading it to be described as “Germany’s most beautiful ruin.” Since being reopened in 1981, the Alte Oper serves only as a concert hall. Operas are now staged in the modern Oper Frankfurt.
Reserve a seat at a performance of one of Europe’s best classical ensembles in the Alte Oper’s 2,500-seat Great Hall. World-class ensembles, like the Berlin Philharmonic and London’s Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, regularly perform here. Popular musicals are also commonly featured. Buy a ticket for a performance at the Alte Oper’s 700-seat Mozart Hall for a more intimate experience of a solo or chamber-group performance. Find concert times and tickets online at the Alte Oper website or from the box office.
If you would like to see the inside of the Alte Oper, but aren’t able to catch a performance, take a guided tour of the building. You will need a minimum of 12 people in your group and there is a fee.
The area in front of the opera house is a lively plaza called the Opernplatz. Take a stroll through the plaza on a summer afternoon to participate in one of the regular street festivals that take place here.
Arrive at the Alte Oper via the U-Bahn station next to the building or the S-Bahn station down the street. There are six parking garages within a 10-minute walk of the opera house. Check the parking garage just to the northeast of the Alte Oper first.
