Schwetzingen: Schlosstheater

Country: Germany (Deutschland) State: Baden-Württemberg District: Rhein-Neckar-Kreis City: Schwetzingen Location: Schlossgarten, Nördlicher Zirkelbau

Ticket 19 May 1998

Built 1752 as "Schloßtheater" by Nicolas de Pigages for Kurfürst Carl Theodor von der Pfalz. The theatre is located behind the "Nördlicher Zirkelbau" (built 1748-1750 after plans by Alessandro Galli da Bibiena) that houses the foyers and is used as the main theatre entrance. Opened Sep 1752 with Molière's "Monsieur de Pourseaugnac" (performed in Italian). 1762 extension of stage, creating a stage of 9 m width and 38 m length (with an auditorium that is only 18 m long!), and alterations of auditorium decoration. A door behind the stage could be opend in order to give the spectators an even longer view into the palace gardens. Only occasionally used after 1778 when Carl Theodor and his court moved to München. Used as a warehouse since the late 19th century. 1937 interior renovation and modernization of stage technology. Since then, known as "Rokokotheater" (while it is actually built in early neoclassical style rather than in rococo style). 1937-1942 used for a "Gaufestwochen" festival. 1943-1944 and shortly after World War II used as an interim theatre by the Mannheim Nationaltheater company. Since 1952, used by the "Schwetzinger Festspiele" festival. 1957 new auditorium ceiling painting by Carolus Vocke. 1971-1974 modernization of stagehouse and stage technology. Re-opened 4 May 1974 with Haydn's "Die Jahreszeiten". 2003 restoration of the auditorium, during which the 1957 ceiling painting had to be removed due to severe damages. Capacity: 450 seats (for opera), 510 seats (for drama). In the 20th century, the theatre was often referred to as "Rokokotheater" (despite its post-rococo, neoclassical architectural style). Since 2023, it is officially named "Pigage-Theater" by the Schwetinger Festspiele festival. Currently used for baroque, classical and contempary opera performances (including many world premieres), drama and ballet performances, and classical concerts by the "Schwetzinger Festspiele" festival. Also used for opera performances and concerts by the "Mozartfest" autumn festival, and for the "Winter in Schwetzingen" festival of Theater Heidelberg. Notable world premieres: Ignaz Holzbauer: Il figlio delle selve (June 1753) Voltaire: L'orphelin de la Chine (1755) Voltaire: Olympie (1762) Werner Egk: Der Revisor (9 May 1957) Giselher Klebe: Das Märchen von der schönen Lilie (15 May 1959) Gerhard Wimberger: La Battaglia (12 May 1960) Hans Werner Henze: Elegie für junge Liebende (20 May 1961) Wolfgang Fortner: In seinem Garten liebt Don Perlimplim Belisa (10 May 1962) Aribert Reimann: Melusine (29 Apr 1971) Hans Werner Henze: Pollicino (1981) Hans Werner Henze: Die englische Katze (2 June 1983) Hans Jürgen von Bose: Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (1 May 1986) Rolf Liebermann: Der Wald (1988) Manfred Trojahn: Enrico (11 Apr 1991) Hans Werner Henze: Tanzstunden (1997) Salvatore Sciarrino: Luci mie traditrici (19 May 1998) Karl Wieland Kurz: Gute Miene böses Spiel (2000) Salvatore Sciarrino: Macbeth (6 June 2002) Salvatore Sciarrino: Da Gelo a Gelo (2006) Adriana Hölszky: Hybris/Niobe (2008) Wolfgang Rihm: Proserpina (2009) Georg Friedrich Haas: Bluthaus (2011) Georg Friedrich Haas: Thomas (2013) Georg Friedrich Haas: Koma (2016) Links: www.schwetzinger-festspiele.de, theaterheidelberg.de

Front Text: "Schwetzingen" Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Schloß: Theater" Publisher: H. Sting, Tübingen; 45. 222. 22. Size: Classic Not sent.

Front Text: "Lernt Deutschland kennen!", "Schwetzingen, inmitten des Städtedreiecks Mannheim - Heidelberg - Speyer, vereinigt drei Begriffe: Schloßpark - Spargel - Flieder. Spargelernte Ende April bis Ende Juni. 3., 4. und 5. Juni traditionelles Spargelfest (Rokokofest)" Publisher: Deutsche Reichspost; 38-122-1-B8 Type: postal card with printed stamp Size: Modern Not sent.

Front Text: "Schwetzingen, Schloss-Theater, beg. 1752, erneuert 1937" Handwritten Reverse Text: dated 16 June 1942 Publisher: Verlag Otto Schwarz Nachf., Schwetzingen Size: Modern Not sent.

Front Text: "Schwetzingen, Schloßtheater" Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Schlosstheater. Erbaut 1752 durch Nikolaus von Pigage unter Kurfürst Karl Theodor. Erneuert 1937." Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen Size: Modern Not sent.

Picture: theatre foyers in the Nördlicher Zirkelbau, background: restaurant Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Deutschlands schönster Schloßgarten, Theater-Foyer" Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen; Nr. 106 Type: Real Photo Size: Classic Not sent.

Picture: restaurant in the Nördlicher Zirkelbau (adjoining the theatre foyers) Front Text: "Schwetzingen, Theater-Restaurant" Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Schloß - Café - Restaurant" Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen Type: Real Photo Size: Modern Sent. from Schwetzingen to Trier, 1953

Picture: aerial view of the Schloss complex, with the Nördlicher Zirkelbau and the theatre to the right Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen - Schloß mit Schloßgarten" Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen; Bestellnr. Schwe Luft 3062-1 Size: Modern Not sent. Detail (theatre roof in the background, left: Nördlicher Zirkelbau, foreground: Prinzenhaus/Amtsgericht facade):

Picture: Nördlicher Zirkelbau with main theatre entrance and foyers (the theatre building itself is not visible from this part of the gardens) Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Deutschlands schönster Schloßgarten, Eingang zum Rokoko-Theater im Schloßgarten, Kaffee und Restaurant" Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen; Cekade Stz 017 59/5 Size: Modern Not sent.

Picture: theatre foyers in the Nördlicher Zirkelbau Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen bei Heidelberg, Schönster Schloßgarten Deutschlands, Foyer im Rokoko-Theater" Publisher: Schöning & Co., Lübeck; Bestellnr. Schwe 109-1 Size: Modern Not sent.

Picture: theatre foyers in the Nördlicher Zirkelbau Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Deuschlands schönster Schloßgarten, Theater - Foyer" Publisher: Photohaus Thohme, Schwetzingen; Cekade Stz 032 70/3 Size: Modern Not sent.

Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Deutschlands schönster Schloßgarten, Rokoko-Theater erbaut 1752 durch Nikolaus von Pigage unter Kurfürst Karl Theodor, Erneuert 1937" Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen; Cekade Stz 021 59/5 Size: Modern Not sent.

Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Deutschlands schönster Schloßgarten, Rokoko-Theater erbaut 1752 durch Nikolaus von Pigage unter Kurfürst Karl Theodor, Erneuert 1937" Publisher: Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen; Cekade Stz 019 59/5 Size: Modern Not sent.

Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Rokoko-Theater im Schloß" Publisher: Verlag Schöning & Co., Lübeck; Bestellnr. Schwe 78-f Size: Modern Sent. from Zell am See (Austria) to Siegen (Germany), 1966

Picture: ceiling painting by Carolus Vocke (detail showing W. A. Mozart as a child prodigy aged 14 during a visit to the Schwetzingen court) Reverse Text: "Schwetzingen, Deckengemälde vom Rokoko-Theater - Mozart im Alter von 14 Jahren" Publisher: Verlag Photohaus Thome, Schwetzingen Size: Modern Not sent.

Picture: auditorium after the 2003 restoration Reverse Text: "Schloss Schwetzingen, Schlosstheater, Zuschauerraum, erbaut von Nicolas de Pigage (1823-1796)." Publisher: Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg; Kunstverlag Fink; Nr. 2014/13 Size: Modern Not sent.

Picture: auditorium after the 2003 restoration Reverse Text: "Schloss und Schlossgarten Schwetzingen - Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens - Rokokotheater, Schloss Schwetzingen - Rococo Theatre, Schwetzingen Palace Gardens" Publisher: Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg; Kunstverlag Fink; Nr. 3012/14 Size: Modern Not sent.

Picture: auditorium after the 2003 restoration Reverse Text: "Schloss und Schlossgarten Schwetzingen - Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens - Rokokotheater, Schloss Schwetzingen - Rococo Theatre, Schwetzingen Palace Gardens" Publisher: Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg; Kunstverlag Fink; Nr. 3009/14 Size: 21.0 x 10.5 cm Not sent.

Picture: Nördlicher Zirkelbau with café and Festspiele flags (the theatre building itself is not visible from this part of the gardens) Reverse Text: "SWR Schwetzinger Festspiele, 29. April - 28. Mai 2022, Arkadien, 70 Jahre Schwetzinger Festspiele" Publisher: SWR Schwetzinger Festpsiele; 2022 Size: Modern Not sent.

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