NEST – Neue Staatsoper

Opened December 7, 2024 with 252 seats and intentionally built for the younger generation and their families. Tickets costs are more affordable than most other venues in Vienna. Major private donors are the Haselsteiner Family Private Foundation and STRABAG SE.

Nice setting, just a bit too steep and deep. We had to make an effort to understand the text. Otherwise a really beautiful building in beautiful surroundings.

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Musically superb! The acting, however, was quite lacking (the cliché of opera singers who can't act unfortunately proved true). The staging in general also left much to be desired (it seemed under-rehearsed, with some halting transitions), especially considering this theater is one of the most heavily subsidized in Europe. Any independent theater would have conjured up something entirely different. The otherwise cool idea of ​​a female D'Artagnan with pink hair came across as rather forced and ingratiating. Furthermore, one expects—especially in children's plays—at least a good command of the language on stage, not only for the sake of comprehension.

The production of Cinderella was very well done and both my granddaughter and I enjoyed it very much. It's a great way to make opera appealing to people who don't usually go to the opera. The steeply raked seating in the auditorium is perfect because it ensures everyone has an unobstructed view of the stage.