Wilhelma-Theater
The Wilhelma Theatre is a theater in the Stuttgart district of Bad Cannstatt. It is located right next to the main entrance to the zoological- botanical garden Wilhelma. In the theater almost 200 public events and performances ( solo concerts, dance, opera, drama, puppetry, etc.) are performed annually. Most performances are designed by the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, which uses the Wilhelma Theater as a learning and teaching theater.
History
The theater was built on the orders of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg in the Pompeian style by Karl Ludwig von Zanth and integrated into the overall ensemble Wilhelma. The monarch, who financed the building of their own box, left the theater instead of the casino sought by the city Cannstatt build. In 1840 was inaugurated. A continuous play mode not established itself. Robert Stolz conducted several times in the theater several operettas. His operetta The Lumperl 1915 was premiered at the Wilhelma Theater. In contrast is the assertion of the Municipal Theatre Graz that Robert Stolz operetta was first performed in her home in 1915.
Over many decades, the theater was empty and was left to decay. It was even threatened with demolition. In 1985 the house at the behest of the then Prime Minister of Baden- Württemberg, Lothar Späth, was renovated under the direction of the State building department and with the support of the Foundation Old -Stuttgart and restored to its original condition. The house has been used since 1987, the University of Music and Performing Arts as a learning and teaching theater of the diverse artistic genres ( opera, drama, song class, puppet theater, elocution, musical comedies, concerts, etc. ).
It is now the only theater in Germany in Pompeian style, the original painting is still partly preserved.
The Wilhelma Theatre now has 349 seats and two ranks. The small size of the orchestra pit and the small stage productions only can be played with small orchestra (eg, chamber operas).
The building is composed of two perpendicular nested building structures whose longitudinal axes have a cross structure. The facade is based on forms of the Renaissance. The superstructure of plastered brick masonry rests on a plinth, reached the floor height. The face side of the building has a central projection, which is divided by three arched windows. Aedicules set with sculptures flanking the projections.
Premieres (selection)
- Beautiful view of 1989
- It was tomorrow what happened yesterday or the trip to Jerusalem in 1994
- Swabia Blues 2005
- Letter to my body in 2006
- The night of Dionysos 2008