Stage house

From the hydraulic lifting platforms to the versatile rehearsal halls and the acoustically impressive pipe organ in the organ hall, the opera house combines traditional architecture with innovative technology. The sophisticated logistics and the wide range of rehearsal rooms provide optimum support for opera productions and underline the importance of the Vienna State Opera as the world's leading opera house.

After the war, the stage house of the Vienna State Opera was rebuilt within the preserved foundation walls. This reconstruction created urgently needed rehearsal rooms that had previously been lacking. In addition, a theater canteen as well as management and administration rooms, which had been moved from the auditorium, were located in the stage house. To facilitate rehearsals and performances, the artists' dressing rooms and most of the rooms are equipped with loudspeakers and video monitors so that the action on stage can be followed from anywhere.

Between 1991 and 1994, the State Opera was extensively modernised. Hydraulic lifting platforms and electromechanical prospectus elevators were installed to make stage operations more precise and problem-free. Since then, the power supply has been provided by its own substations instead of the Hofburg. The modernisations in the areas of technology, security and infrastructure remained invisible to the audience, while painting work took place in the auditorium and the boxes were given new seats.

An unused room under the hipped roof was also converted into a new rehearsal hall during this time. This hall, named "Probebühne Eberhard Waechter", offers optimal acoustic conditions for scenic and orchestral rehearsals and was officially opened in 1995. Further rehearsal halls followed, including the largest rehearsal stage, which was renamed the "Carlos Kleiber Rehearsal Stage" in 2004 to honor the famous conductor.

Today, the Vienna State Opera has additional rehearsal rooms for choir and orchestra rehearsals, including the organ hall on the sixth floor. This hall is significant not only for its acoustics, but also for its monumental pipe organ with 2,500 pipes, which is unique in an opera house worldwide. If required, its sound can be transmitted into the auditorium to create special acoustic effects. The artists also have ten soundproofed solo rehearsal rooms and two ballet halls at their disposal.

The main stage of the Vienna State Opera, a combined retractable and sliding stage with hydraulic and electric drive, was built after the war and completely overhauled in the 1990s. The stage is divided into four sections: Main stage, back stage, side stage and lower stage. The main stage itself covers 675 square meters and offers more space than the auditorium.

Six central lifting platforms, which can be moved independently of each other, enable complex stage maneuvers. These lifting platforms can be raised up to 2.5 meters and lowered up to 11.15 meters to the lower stage. This means that finished stage sets can be quickly moved from the lower stage to the main stage. Each platform is 18 meters wide, 3 meters deep and can carry up to 27 tons. Thanks to the quiet hydraulics, these podiums can also be moved during the performance so that stage sets or performers can "disappear" or "appear" right in front of the audience.

Above the main stage is the laced floor at a height of 26.7 meters, which has 98 tension slats for hanging stage material such as lamps and decorations. More than half of these slats are operated by machine. For safety reasons, there are three iron curtains on the main stage, known as "curtains", which separate the auditorium and stage areas in a fireproof manner if necessary. These steel curtains are designed in such a way that they can be lowered hydraulically in just six seconds in an emergency.

As the Vienna State Opera offers changing performances every day, the stage often has to be completely rebuilt twice a day. The logistics area therefore includes the backstage, side stage and lower stage, where stage sets are prepared on scenery trolleys and brought onto the stage. As there is only room in the house for the sets of a maximum of four productions, the majority of the stage sets are stored externally, in the nearby "ART for ART" scenery depot in Haringsee. A temporary storage facility at the Vienna Arsenal serves as a transshipment point for the sets, which are performed in the current month and transported to the opera house by truck every day. On average, a production requires 15 to 20 containers of material - for more elaborate productions such as Aida or Carmen, up to 40 containers are needed.

There is a large revolving stage above the backstage area, which is only rarely used, for example for "Die Fledermaus" on New Year's Eve. The hydraulically driven Roman curtain can be raised or divided in the middle to allow for different stage scenarios. A sound absorber, which is used during conversion work, reduces the noise level in the auditorium by 30 decibels and is covered in black velvet.