The Cologne Opera is one of the most traditional opera houses in Germany and has been shaping the international music theater scene with its artistic excellence for decades.
Since the 2022/23 season, the house has been under the management of artistic director Hein Mulders. The repertoire includes great opera classics as well as exciting music theater projects and international premieres. With the Cologne Children's Opera, one of the oldest children's opera formats in Europe is also firmly part of the house's profile.
The center of artistic creation is the opera ensemble, which is complemented by international guests and the renowned Cologne Opera Studio. The latter was founded in 1961, making it one of the first institutions of its kind in the German-speaking world. The Cologne Opera cooperates with renowned houses and festivals worldwide, such as the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Salzburg Festival, the Teatro Real Madrid and the Opéra Comique Paris.
Since the opening of the opera house on Offenbachplatz in 1957, the Cologne Opera has stood for a strong artistic profile - characterized by big names such as Maria Callas or Wolfgang Sawallisch, bold productions and a deliberately contemporary repertoire. In recent years, productions such as the unabridged performance of "Les Troyens", the new production of Zemlinsky's "Der Zwerg" and the world premiere of "INES" have attracted national attention.
Since the 2015/16 season, the StaatenHaus in Cologne-Deutz has served as an interim venue during the ongoing renovation of the main building - a place where the Cologne Opera impressively demonstrates its innovative strength beyond the classical stage space.
