Prize for Chemnitz premiere of "Rummelplatz"

The Chemnitz opera premiere "Rummelplatz" is causing a sensation across the region. At a gala in Regensburg, the production was awarded the "Oper! Award" in the "Best Festival" category at a gala in Regensburg. The jury praised the Chemnitz Theatre for setting a piece of world literature to music that takes place in the region, making it a huge success. Thanks to the Capital of Culture year, the theater was able to put on a promising world premiere despite limited resources.

The opera premiered in September and has been very popular with audiences. According to the theater, all performances have been sold out so far and additional dates have been scheduled. There will also be further performances in the upcoming 2026/2027 season.

Opera set in uranium mining in the GDR

The opera is based on the novel of the same name by Werner Bräunig and is set in uranium mining in the Ore Mountains against the backdrop of the nuclear arms race in East and West after the Second World War. The material was adapted for the opera stage by the author Jenny Erpenbeck and the composer Ludger Vollmer.

The unendowed award was presented by the trade magazine "Oper!". At the gala, Theater Regensburg was named "Best Opera House of the Year". The Staatskapelle Berlin with General Music Director Christian Thielemann was also honored as "Best Orchestra" and Barrie Kosky in the "Best Director" category. The prize for "Best Performance" went to opera star Cecilia Bartoli, director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, for "Hotel Metamorphosis". "Best Rediscovery" was awarded to "Die toten Augen" by the Theater Altenburg-Gera.