Mozart’s Realm. Opernhaus, Chemnitz (DE)

Built by Richard Möbius in 1909 and renovated extensively several times since then, Chemnitz Opera is considered to be one of Europe’s most modern opera houses. To prepare for 2025, the year in which Chemnitz is German Capital of Culture, the venerable old theatre has been given completely new sanitary facilities including Geberit products.

With the Opera, König-Albert-Museum and Petrikirche, the Theaterplatz is one of its most attractive building ensembles in the German city of Chemnitz. A meeting place for culture lovers, the Opera can look back on a turbulent history.

Between the industrialisation era in the 19th century and the outbreak of the First World War, Chemnitz experienced a veritable construction boom, during which more than 100 public buildings saw the light of day. It was also during this period that the Opera was built. With its “Jugendstil” design, it was constructed in 1909 by local architect Richard Möbius. After sustaining severe damage in the Second World War, it was rebuilt between 1947 and 1951 and underwent extensive renovations in the 1990s.

30 years later, the owners made use of the pandemic-induced closure to complete a full-scale overhaul of the sanitary facilities. A total of 15 sanitary rooms were fitted out with installation systems and ceramics from Geberit. Among other things, Geberit Rimfree toilets from the Acanto bathroom series were installed. They feature integrated odour extraction and quick-release hinges allowing the seats to be removed effortlessly to facilitate cleaning. As great importance was attached to products with touchless operation, contact-free Geberit washbasin taps, urinals and actuator plates were installed.

An institution such as Chemnitz Opera is dependent on having reliable sanitary installations with proven durability. After all, the listed heritage building, which holds an audience of up to 720 people, welcomes more than 70,000 guests each year. The Opera’s programme features a wide range of performances appealing to all ages and audiences, from classic to modern opera and from ballets to musicals. Chemnitz has been named 2025 Capital of Culture. In that year, its cultural institutions are expecting to welcome guests from all over Europe.