Vienna State Opera’s 70th anniversary revives Austria’s cultural rebirth after WWII
The Vienna State Opera has marked its 70th anniversary since its reopening following World War II destruction. An exhibition, a book, and a documentary have been launched to commemorate this significant event in Austria's cultural history.
The opera's reconstruction and reopening in 1955 was a symbol of Austria's rebirth after the war. To celebrate this, an exhibition featuring photographs and artifacts has been opened. Accompanying this exhibition is a book titled 'In the Palace of Self-Invention'. The reopening was also marked by a commemorative event attended by Austria's political and cultural elite.
The ORF is airing a documentary on the opera's history as part of the anniversary commemoration. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen questioned how high culture and atrocities coexisted during the Nazi regime. Director Bogdan Roščić noted the unexamined Nazi past that loomed over the opera's reopening in 1955. A commemorative plaque was unveiled honoring opera members murdered or driven into exile under Nazism.
Looking ahead, the Vienna State Opera will stage a new production of Beethoven's 'Fidelio' in December. Erich Boltenstern, the dramaturg who designed the interior of the opera for its reopening in 1955, symbolized an enduring understanding of Austria during that time.
The anniversary of the Vienna State Opera's reopening has been marked by a commemoration of the past and a look towards the future. The opera continues to stand as a symbol of Austria's cultural heritage and resilience.
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