View source for Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe

{{Short description|Theatre and opera house in Karlsruhe, Germany}}
{{No footnotes|date=September 2014}}
[[File:Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe IMGP2104.JPG|thumb|Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe]]
The '''Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe''' is a theatre and opera house in [[Karlsruhe]], [[Germany]]. It has existed in its present form and place at Ettlinger Tor since 1975. Achim Thorwald became the [[Theater manager|Intendant]] in summer 2002 and held that post until the end of the 2010/11 season.  Peter Spuhler succeeded him at the beginning of the 2011/12 season and continues to serve in that post.
The Staatstheater is a ''Dreisparten'' venue, housing three performance genres: musical theatre, ballet and theatre, as well as the studio stage in Karlstraße. The ''[[Badische Staatskapelle]]'' (orchestra) and the ''Badische Staatsopernchor'' (opera chorus) are resident companies of the theatre.
==History==
City architect [[Friedrich Weinbrenner]] constructed the first predecessor of the ''Badisches Staatstheater'' in 1808 near the castle. In 1810, it became the ''Großherzogliches Hoftheater'' (Grand Ducal court theatre).
[[File:Karlsruhe Hoftheater von Heinrich Hübsch.jpg|thumb|''Hoftheater'' by [[Heinrich Hübsch]], 1853 to 1944]]
During a performance on 28 February 1847, a fire broke out destroying the building which had been built mainly from wood and canvas.  A total of 63 spectators perished, most in a panic caused by doors that opened inwards and prevented a speedy escape.  The replacement theatre, by court architect [[Heinrich Hübsch]], was finished in 1853 and opened under the direction of [[Eduard Devrient]].
During an Anglo-US-American aerial bombardment on 27 September 1944, the ''Hoftheater'' was destroyed again. The site is now occupied by the [[German Federal Constitutional Court]]. Plans for the current facility were finalized in 1964 and the venue opened in 1975.
Between 1978 and 1984, works of [[baroque]] composer [[Georg Friedrich Händel]] were presented in a special format annually known as ''Händel Days''. In 1985, on the occasion of the composer's tricentenary, these became the Händel Festival, which occurs yearly on 23 February, Händel's birthday.
==References==
'''Sources'''
* Much of the information in this article is taken directly from the [[:de:Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe|German Wikipedia article]].
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe}}
*[http://www.staatstheater.karlsruhe.de/ Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.haendel-karlsruhe.de/ Händel-Institutionen in Karlsruhe] {{in lang|de}}
{{coord|49.004019|N|8.406086|E|source:dewiki_region:DE-BW_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title}}
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[[Category:Opera houses in Germany]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Karlsruhe]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Karlsruhe]]
[[Category:Theatres in Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1808]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1853]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1975]]
[[Category:Music venues completed in 1975]]
[[Category:Music venues completed in 1853]]
[[Category:Südstadt (Karlsruhe)]]