2_1_DiscoverGermany_Issue32_November2015:Scan Magazine 1
26/10/15
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Theatre of the Month
Main image & top right: Mecklenburg State Theatre. Right: Mozart’s famous opera The Magic Flute (opened 23 October)' Performance of the Russian ballet classic: The Nutcracker
Germany
Mecklenburg State Theatre
A cultural jewel The Mecklenburg State Theatre in Schwerin is one of the most renowned and historic theatres in northern Germany, serving a wide range of performing arts, musical theatre, plays in dialect, ballet and drama. TEXT: ELISABETH DOEHNE | PHOTOS: MECKLENBURG STATE THEATRE | SILKE WINKLER
Schwerin’s beautiful theatre was inaugurated almost 130 years ago. Behind its NeoRenaissance facade, architect Georg Daniel designed a Neo-Baroque auditorium with three tiers seating 542 spectators, as well as classical foyers. The theatre is situated next to the Museum of Fine Arts and opposite to the magnificent palace that exemplifies the flourishing of court culture in the 19th century. In fact, the Residence Ensemble Schwerin is currently applying to be listed as an official UNESCO World Heritage site. Historic and modern charm Schwerin’s theatre is also one of 14 selected historic theatres on the Germany route of the European Route of Historic Theatres, which provides a cross-section through the European theatrical world of the 18th and
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19th centuries. As a second location, the theatre’s re-modeled industrial factory‘EWerk’ is well known for its contemporary programme, including modern drama, musical nights, readings, chamber dance and chamber opera. For example, the EWerk’s OperaLounge ‘Figaros HAARem’ is a musical play with culinary highlights that seek to transports visitors back to Mozart’s Vienna. Christmas season 2015 During the winter season, Schwerin’s Christmas play is extremely popular among everyone; families with children, groups, season tickets holders and theatre lovers of all kinds. The theatre’s special Christmas play Snow White opens 21 November and runs through 20 December.
On Sundays, visitors can also watch the northern-German dialect program Von'n bunten Teller (opening 29 November). More Christmas and winter performances include: Mozart’s The Magic Flute (23 December), the children’s Christmas concert (26 December), the ballet The Nutcracker (showing 27 December) and the special New Year’s Eve concert featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (29 -31 December). Open-air opera 2016: Aida In Schwerin, Germany’s third-oldest orchestra and all ensembles are busy all year round; every summer they present the Open-Air Opera Festival (Schlossfestspiele) in the palace gardens. In 2016, the Mecklenburg State Theatre presents Verdi’s Aida (performance from 8 July to 14 August, 2016). During six weeks, thousands of visitors are invited to witness a unique and magical opera beneath the stars. Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin www.theater-schwerin.de