Cuvilliés Theatre

All you want to know about Cuvilliés Theatre

Cuvilliés Theatre

The Cuvilliés Theatre (German: Cuvilliés-Theater) or Old Residence Theatre (Altes Residenztheater) of the Residence in Munich was built from 1751 to 1753 by François de Cuvilliés in rococo style. The carving was done under supervision of Johann Baptist Straub.

Elector of Bavaria Maximilian III Joseph ordered the construction of a new theatre outside the palace after a fire in the St.George's Hall of the Residence which had served previously as a theatre room. Originally the theatre was located where the present (New) Residence Theatre stands; after its destruction in World War II, was rebuilt in a wing of the Residence. Though the theatre was bombed during World War II, the carved and gilded boxes had been dismantled and stored for security. Afterwards the Residenztheater was meticulously recreated in the 1950s.

Many operas were staged here, including the premieres of Mozart's Idomeneo in 1781 and Carl Maria von Weber's Abu Hassan in 1811.

The theatre was renovated and technically modernised from 2004-2008, and on 14 June 2008, the theatre re-opened with the premiere performance of a new production of Mozart's Idomeneo.

Coordinates: 48°08′24″N 11°34′44″E / 48.14, 11.57889