Cult in the neigborhood

Portrait of the Opera Neukoelln on the occasion of its 25th anniversary

The first performances took place in churches in Neukölln and the rehearsals on one of the floors in a warehouse. Today the Neuköllner Oper has its own place – yet it differs greatly from the other three opera houses in Berlin. In Neukölln they prefer to perform opera for the people. In other words: in front of an audience, an audience for which the Staatsoper seems to have created a barrier and seems difficult to cross by awestruck people. Another difference concerns the artists: many singers have just graduated from a Music Academy and make their first professional attempts. They are not stars yet and are open to experimenting. They enjoy the unconventional, goofy and burlesque.