Nuremberg (dpa/lby) – The alternative venue during the renovation of the ailing Nuremberg opera house is to be built in the inner courtyard of the congress hall, according to the recommendation of a jury. The jury is convinced that the location does not affect the architectural effect of the congress hall built by the Nazis and the culture of remembrance, said Mayor Marcus König (CSU) on Thursday evening. The jury, made up of experts from various disciplines, had previously evaluated proposals from eight selected architectural firms.
The more than 100-year-old Nuremberg opera house in the city center urgently needs to be renovated because its operating license expires in 2025. The Nuremberg city council had decided last December that the opera and ballet of the State Theater should find temporary accommodation in the congress hall on the former Nazi party rally grounds of the National Socialists. Rehearsal rooms, workshops and offices are to be accommodated in the shell, the venue with stage, orchestra pit and auditorium in a lightweight construction in the congress hall.
However, experts had previously expressed criticism – especially with regard to a location in the inner courtyard, because an interim building could block the view of the facade and dilute the function of the memorial site. On July 8, the opera house commission set up by the city is to assess the proposal. The city council is scheduled to make a decision on July 20.
