World Heritage Identification Number: 1379
World Heritage since: 2012
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇩🇪 Germany
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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Masterpiece of Baroque Theatre Architecture: The Margravial Opera House Bayreuth
The Margravial Opera House Bayreuth, located in the picturesque town of Bayreuth, Germany, stands as a testament to the grandeur and artistic prowess of the Baroque era. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, this opera house is a unique and well-preserved example of Baroque court opera culture and acoustics.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
A masterpiece of Baroque theatre architecture, built between 1745 and 1750, the Opera House is the only entirely preserved example of its type where an audience of 500 can experience Baroque court opera culture and acoustics authentically, as its auditorium retains its original materials, i.e. wood and canvas. Commissioned by Margravine Wilhelmine, wife of Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg–Bayreuth, it was designed by the renowned theatre architect Giuseppe Galli Bibiena. As a court opera house in a public space, it foreshadowed the large public theatres of the 19th century. The highly decorated theatre’s tiered loge structure of wood with illusionistic painted canvas represents the ephemeral ceremonial architectural tradition that was employed in pageants and celebrations for princely self-representation.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
It is today the most important and best preserved example of court opera house architecture and of the Baroque opera culture. The theatre is a masterwork of Baroque court theatre architecture by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena in terms of its tiered loge form and acoustic, decorative and iconological properties. It marks a specific point in the development of opera houses, being a court opera house located not within a palace but as an urban element in the public space, foreshadowing the great public opera houses of the 19th century.
Encyclopedia Record: Margravial Opera House
The Margravial Opera House is a Baroque opera house in the town of Bayreuth, Germany. Built between 1745 and 1750, it is one of Europe's few surviving theatres of the period and has been extensively restored. On 30 June 2012, the opera house was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its exceptional Baroque architecture.Additional Site Details
Area: 0.19 hectares
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 49.9443931107 , 11.5784979437
