Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – In view of the economic consequences of the Ukraine war, the Court of Auditors has called for a review of the renovation plans for the Stuttgart Opera. The conversion, which has so far been valued at one billion euros, is a “big investment,” said Court of Auditors President Günther Benz on Monday in Stuttgart. The need for rehabilitation is undisputed. But in times of crisis one has to ask whether there could be other sensible plans that could lead to a smaller and more cost-effective solution. Benz also thinks it is conceivable to extend the renovation over time. “I wouldn’t think it would be a wrong decision to check that,” said the country’s chief financial controller.
The state and the city of Stuttgart want to share the financing of the project. Whether the previous budget of more than one billion euros can be maintained is strongly questioned. Most recently, there were also doubts in the green-black coalition as to whether the restructuring could still be sustained in times of crisis. Above all, the CDU parliamentary group wants the plan to be reviewed again.
The more than 100-year-old opera house needs a general renovation and is bursting at the seams. Among other things, a modern so-called cross stage should make it possible to change the stage set faster and easier, more space is needed for rehearsal rooms, for example, the roof from 1911 is dilapidated and the gastronomy is no longer up to date. The directorship has also registered a larger usable area.
