Kassel's new opera house: A chaotic start on the high seas!

Kassel's new opera house: A chaotic start on the high seas!

On October 31, 2025, a new cultural hotspot opened in Kassel: the temporary opera house “Das Interim”. After 16 months of construction and a budget of 21 million euros, the house offers space for 850 visitors and can be redesigned in a variety of ways. The facility's opening was met with mixed reactions, as it premiered Verdi's "Aida" in a notable but controversial production.

The acoustics of the new house in particular take some getting used to. While the technology worked perfectly, director Florian Lutz performed the action on a cruise ship, which caused confusion among the audience. Political and social themes were mixed with classical opera, which not every audience member liked. Some of the prominent figures brought into the production included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Mixed reactions to the premiere

The singers and orchestra's performances received mostly positive feedback. However, the audience reacted ambivalently: While some spectators celebrated the actors with applause, there were also boos for the directing team, which underlined the ambivalent mood after the performance. The premiere ended with a convivial reception that spread the word that there was still room for improvement.

With this new facility, the city of Kassel can position itself as an important player in the German opera landscape. If you would like to find out more about the planned events and background information, you can find detailed information on the city of Kassel's website, visit.kassel.de.

A look at the competitors: The Zurich Opera House

Kassel is not alone on the opera world stage. A look at Zurich shows how strongly the Zurich Opera House has established itself as a cultural institution in Switzerland. With over 300 performances annually and a variety of new productions ranging from baroque to contemporary music, it holds a leading position in Europe. The artistic direction is in the hands of general manager Matthias Schulz, together with general music director Gianandrea Noseda and ballet director Cathy Marston.

The Zurich Opera House, which opened in 1891, has significantly shaped the city's cultural identity. It acts as a link between tradition and innovation and is a valued place for art lovers of all ages. The approximately 800 employees from 40 nations do an excellent job every day to offer visitors extraordinary artistic experiences. You can find out more about this on the website opernhaus.ch.

Overall, it shows that both Kassel and Zurich are consolidating their place in the operational world - while Kassel is relying on a fresh concept with “The Interim”, the Zurich Opera House remains a tried and tested classic with high standards.