Come and admire the Zurich Opera House

Although the Zurich Opera House changed its name in 1964, its concert hall retains its original neoclassical façade. Supported by 1,800 oak pillars, it was designed by Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. You'll also be impressed by the entrance hall and the auditorium, built in a luxurious rococo style and seating 1,200 people. Look up to see the superb ceiling paintings depicting love, tragedy, comedy, music and poetry.

With its 1,100 seats, the Zurich Opera House welcomes international stars every year. Each season, you can see around 250 performances (multiple operas of varied aesthetics, ballets, concerts, recitals) that the orchestra accompanies with passion and brio.

The Opernhaus is considered to be one of the most productive and successful opera houses in Europe, offering both the great classics and contemporary music from the 21st century. In summer, you can also attend spectacular open-air performances as part of the 'Opera for All' or 'Ballet for All' events. Renowned for the high quality of its programming, this cultural institution was also named "Opera Company of the Year" at the International Opera Awards, and voted "Best Opera House" among opera houses worldwide at the Opera Awards in 2019. An accolade for this modestly sized establishment.

There are several choices of visits (you will need to book in advance):

Tours of the Opera House:

Lasting 50 minutes, this tour, organised on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, will take you on stage, past the props, make-up and tailoring departments, into the costume storage area and into the Opera's furniture and set warehouses. Price: CHF 10 (€10.11)

Guided tours of the scenic technology department:

The 75-minute tour will take you inside the opera house's stage and control room, revealing the secrets of stage technology. Each tour focusing on a particular department of the opera house will cost a little more: 20 Swiss francs (20.23 euros).

Guided tours of the make-up department:

For one hour, you will go to the heart of the Opera's make-up department, offering you a fascinating insight into the world of wig-making and make-up. The visit also costs 20 Swiss francs (€20.23).

Visits to the costume department:

For those with a passion for stage dress, you can spend an hour learning about the manufacturing techniques and creative processes used to design male and female costumes at Zurich Opera. Same price as the other tours: 20.23 euros

Family tours:

The one-hour tour takes you and your children behind the scenes of the theatre - on stage, in front of the props, make-up and sewing departments, in the costume department and in the storage area for the opera's furniture and sets. Adults will have to pay 10 Swiss francs, but admission is free for children.