“Did you know that Lübeck’s Stadttheater wasn’t always this magnificent Art Nouveau building?” I ask. The Stadttheater stands before you a testament to art and culture. Its history is long and fascinating. It began much earlier than its current structure.
The Stadttheater’s story began much earlier than 1908. Public interest in opera and theatre blossomed in Lübeck during the Enlightenment. The first opera took place in 1746. It was performed in a craftsman’s house. A predecessor to the present building existed by 1752. This earlier Stadttheater even features in Thomas Mann’s famous novel Buddenbrooks. It’s a small detail many miss. The transition of the theatre company to city ownership in the 19th century is described there.
The current Stadttheater however is a masterpiece. Built in 1908 it reflects the Art Nouveau style. It was constructed on the site of an older 18th-century theatre. The funding for this beautiful building came from Emil Possehl. He was a local businessman and philanthropist. The sandstone facade boasts stunning reliefs sculpted by Georg Roemer. Apollo and the nine Muses are the centerpiece. Comedy and Tragedy flank them. Caryatids and Atlases support the gable end. These are the work of Hamburg plasterer Karl Weinberger. The entire Stadttheater underwent a complete restoration in the 1990s. This ensured that the beauty of the original building endured.
Today the Stadttheater offers a rich variety of performances. Opera ballet chamber music plays and concerts by the Lübeck Philharmonic Orchestra all grace its stages. It boasts not one but three stages. The Groβes Haus Kammerspiele and Studio. These present premieres and revivals. The Stadttheater’s productions have won numerous awards. They represent a wide range of styles and eras. This keeps the theatre vibrant and relevant.
The Stadttheater is more than just a building. It’s a cultural hub for Lübeck. It reflects the city’s history and its enduring love for the arts. It’s a place where history and artistic expression meet. It’s a place where the past and present come together to create magic. The Stadttheater is a true treasure.