State Theatre (Mainz Staatstheater), Mainz

The Mainz State Theatre (Staatstheater Mainz) is a prominent cultural institution situated on Gutenberg Square (Gutenbergplatz). Owned and managed by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, this theatre showcases a diverse range of performances, including opera, drama, and ballet. The theatre complex consists of two interconnected buildings, linked by an underground passage and a skywalk.

Originally known as the Mainz City Theater, the main building was constructed between 1829 and 1833 by architect Georg Moller in the Neoclassical style. Its creation was a long-awaited demand from the local bourgeoisie and cost a significant 280,000 guilders, almost the entire city budget of the time. The theatre replaced the previous "Comedy House" and initially seated 1,500 people, with its inaugural performances featuring works by Weber and Mozart. Over the decades, the theatre saw multiple expansions and renovations, including major work in 1863, and 1876, and a significant transformation in 1898-99 by Ferdinand Fellner & Hermann Helmer.

The theatre was heavily damaged during World War II, with the Großes Haus destroyed in 1942. Reconstruction began in 1950-51, followed by modernization in 1976-77 to restore the rotunda. In 1997, the Kleines Haus was added for smaller performances. Extensive renovations from 1998 to 2001 improved acoustics and stage technology, with further upgrades in 2003 making the Staatstheater a state-of-the-art venue.

The theatre, home to the Philharmonic State Orchestra Mainz, hosts around 500 performances yearly, attracting local and international audiences. It partners with institutions like Mainz University of Music and Peter Cornelius Conservatory to nurture young talent. Since 1989, it's been a Limited Company, co-managed by the city of Mainz and Rhineland-Palatinate.