Theater St. Gallen
Encyclopedia
The Theater St. Gallen is a performing arts center
for opera, musical, ballet, and theatre in St. Gallen
, Switzerland
, and considered to be the oldest professional theatre in Switzerland.
Although the monks Tutilo and Notker already inspired briefly lay theatre in St. Gallen during the Middle Ages, theatre did not flourish for a long time because of moral concerns. In the early 19th century interest in theatre was reawakened. After the first performance on October 14, 1801 in modest surroundings, a "Theater Stock Company" was founded in 1805 to support a local professional theatre group. When they needed a larger place for their performances, the architect Johann Christoph Kunkler built a theater into which the group moved in 1857. This "Kunkler-Bau" remained the home of the formerly called Stadttheater St. Gallen for 111 years until 1968. The building was then demolished.
The current building was designed by the Swiss architect Claude Paillard and inaugurated with Beethoven's Fidelio
on March 15, 1968. The building houses two stages, the larger one allows 742 persons and the studio 100 persons to attend.
With the construction of the new building, the stock company was replaced by a consortium with participation of the town of St. Gallen and its canton. Surrounding communities thereafter joined in the venture. The "Genossenschaft Konzert und Theater St. Gallen" ("Cooperative for concert and theatre of St. Gallen") is since 2000 the supporting organization for the orchestre and theatre of St. Gallen. The "Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen" therefore provides orchestral support for operas and musicals.
Each year about 20 new productions are introduced. Among them, in 2009, the theater featured the world premiere of The Count of Monte Cristo, a musical by Frank Wildhorn
. The theatre's 390 annual performances are seen by about 140,000 attendees.
Performing arts center
Performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is used to refer to* A multi-use performance space that is intended for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre....
for opera, musical, ballet, and theatre in St. Gallen
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and considered to be the oldest professional theatre in Switzerland.
Although the monks Tutilo and Notker already inspired briefly lay theatre in St. Gallen during the Middle Ages, theatre did not flourish for a long time because of moral concerns. In the early 19th century interest in theatre was reawakened. After the first performance on October 14, 1801 in modest surroundings, a "Theater Stock Company" was founded in 1805 to support a local professional theatre group. When they needed a larger place for their performances, the architect Johann Christoph Kunkler built a theater into which the group moved in 1857. This "Kunkler-Bau" remained the home of the formerly called Stadttheater St. Gallen for 111 years until 1968. The building was then demolished.
The current building was designed by the Swiss architect Claude Paillard and inaugurated with Beethoven's Fidelio
Fidelio
Fidelio is a German opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto is by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly which had been used for the 1798 opera Léonore, ou L’amour conjugal by Pierre Gaveaux, and for the 1804 opera Leonora...
on March 15, 1968. The building houses two stages, the larger one allows 742 persons and the studio 100 persons to attend.
With the construction of the new building, the stock company was replaced by a consortium with participation of the town of St. Gallen and its canton. Surrounding communities thereafter joined in the venture. The "Genossenschaft Konzert und Theater St. Gallen" ("Cooperative for concert and theatre of St. Gallen") is since 2000 the supporting organization for the orchestre and theatre of St. Gallen. The "Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen" therefore provides orchestral support for operas and musicals.
Each year about 20 new productions are introduced. Among them, in 2009, the theater featured the world premiere of The Count of Monte Cristo, a musical by Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn is an American composer known for both his musicals and popular songs. He is most known for his musical Jekyll & Hyde, which ran four years on Broadway, and for writing the #1 International Hit song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" for Whitney Houston.-Early years:Wildhorn was born in...
. The theatre's 390 annual performances are seen by about 140,000 attendees.