Alte Oper Frankfurt

On 20 October 1880, Frankfurt celebrated a long-awaited event - the opening of its own opera house. Visitors came to feast their eyes on the brand-new auditorium designed by Berlin architect Richard Lucae, which could seat 2010 people. The Alte Oper Frankfurt had escaped the First World War with only slight bomb damage to its façade, so its destruction towards the end of the Second World War was all the more tragic. During the night of 23rd March 1944, the Alte Oper was completely burnt-out and sections of its roof collapsed entirely. It was not long before the decision to rebuild it was taken. A call for donations urged people to 'Save the Alte Oper', and enough money was raised to allow the building to be made safe in 1952.