What Oper Graz does

Oper Graz (legal entity Opernhaus Graz GmbH) is a music theater institution based in Graz, Austria, operating under the umbrella organization Bühnen Graz. Founded in 1899 when the Steiermärkische Sparkasse financed and gifted the opera house to the city, it is one of Austria's leading regional opera houses, serving approximately 180,000 spectators per season. Core programming spans opera, operetta, musical, ballet, and concert productions, all accompanied live by the resident Graz Philharmonic Orchestra (Grazer Philharmoniker), a ~100-musician ensemble celebrating 75 years in 2025 under Chief Conductor Vassilis Christopoulos.

Supporting products and services include Ballet Graz (under Director Dirk Elwert from the 2023/24 season), the Opernstudio talent program with Kunstuniversität Graz, Singschul' children's choir, OperAktiv! educational outreach, Café Stolz (opened September 2023), multi-language guided tours, accessibility services including live audio description, and hospitality partnerships (Bühnen Graz Gourmet dining, partner hotels). Core stage production technology is traditional theatrical staging, lighting, sound, and costume production.

Revenue derives from a mix of ticket sales (€3-€92 per ticket, with discounts for students, seniors, under-27, and disabled visitors), season subscriptions (Abonnement), corporate sponsorships and media partnerships (Steiermärkische Sparkasse since 1899, Holding Graz, Kleine Zeitung, Ö1 Club), public cultural funding from Austrian federal and Styrian state sources, Förderkreis patron memberships (€120-€1,500+ annually), and catering/hospitality. Customer segments span general performing arts audiences, families with children, classical music connoisseurs, corporate sponsors and patrons, and educational institutions. Distribution combines the owned Ticketzentrum box office, online platform, Theater Ambassador program, group bookings, and partner channels including Ö1 Club, Checkit Card, Steiermark-Card, and Shopping Nord.

Name

Oper Graz

Legal name

Opernhaus Graz GmbH

Website

https://oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oper Graz is a publicly funded music theater institution in Graz, Austria, offering opera, ballet, musical, and concert productions accompanied by the resident Graz Philharmonic Orchestra. It serves regional audiences, families, corporate sponsors, and educational institutions through ticketed performances, subscriptions, and outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Opera and Music Theater Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Opera performances
• Ballet productions
• Classical concerts
• Music theater
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual performance tickets, subscriptions, and group bookings through the Ticketzentrum box office and online platform.
2. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsors and partners provide financial support in exchange for branding visibility, venue access for corporate events, and marketing benefits.
3. Catering and Hospitality: Revenue from Café Stolz café operations, Kirchenwirt catering services, gourmet vouchers (Bühnen Graz Gourmet), and partner hotel bookings.
4. Public Funding: Government cultural funding from Austrian federal and Styrian state sources to support artistic programming.
5. Membership and Donations: Friends of Oper Graz (Förderkreis) membership fees and charitable donations from patrons supporting young talent development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oper Graz is a music theater institution that produces and presents opera, operetta, musical, ballet, and orchestral concert performances at its main opera house and Studiobühne in Graz, Austria. Programming is supported by the resident Grazer Philharmoniker orchestra and complemented by educational outreach, guided tours, hospitality services, and a young artist training studio.

Product overview

Oper Graz (Opernhaus Graz GmbH) is a music theater institution offering a diverse portfolio of performances and cultural services. The core offerings include full-scale opera productions (Oper, Operette & Musical) and Ballett Graz dance performances, both accompanied by the resident Grazer Philharmoniker orchestra under Chief Conductor Vassilis Christopoulos. Supporting services include concert programs (orchestra concerts, chamber concerts, espresso concerts at Café Stolz), educational programs (OperAktiv!, Singschul' children's choir), guided tours, the Opernstudio for emerging singers, and visitor services (Bühnen Graz Gourmet dining packages, hotel partnerships, accessibility services including audio description for blind patrons).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grazer Philharmoniker: The orchestra of Oper Graz, performing opera, operetta, ballet, musical and concert productions. The orchestra has approximately one hundred musicians and was formed from the fusion of Graz Städtisches Orchester and the Funkorchester der Sendergruppe Alpenland on September 1, 1950, celebrating 75 years in 2025.
• Ballett Graz
• Chor der Oper Graz
• Opernstudio
• OperAktiv!
• Café Stolz
• Singschul'
• Bühnen Graz Gourmet

Products and services

• Opera, Operette & Musical Performances Full-scale opera, operetta, and musical productions performed at the main stage featuring professional singers, orchestra, and ensemble members. Targeted at opera enthusiasts, classical music lovers, and cultural consumers.
• Ballett Graz (Ballet Productions) Contemporary ballet and dance productions under Ballet Director Dirk Elwert, featuring international dancers and innovative choreography. Targeted at ballet fans and contemporary dance audiences.
• Grazer Philharmoniker Concerts (Orchestra, Chamber, and Espresso Concerts) Orchestra concerts, chamber music concerts, espresso concerts, and special concert programs performed by the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra and guest artists under Chief Conductor Vassilis Christopoulos. Targeted at classical music connoisseurs and concert audiences.
• Café Stolz Café located in the mirrored foyer of Oper Graz offering espresso concerts, refreshments, and informal musical performances. Targeted at visitors, pre-show audiences, and casual patrons.
• Guided Tours of the Opera House Behind-the-scenes tours of the opera house available in multiple languages (German, English, Italian, Spanish, French), including regular tours (adults €7, students €6, schoolchildren €3) and backstage tours for schools (€6 per schoolchild). Targeted at tourists, school groups, and cultural visitors.
• OperAktiv! Educational Programs
• Opernstudio (Opera Studio Young Artist Program)
• Singschul' (Children's Choir)
• Bühnen Graz Gourmet (Dining Partnerships)
• Bühnen Graz Hotels (Hotel Partnerships)

Quantifiable outcome

• ~180,000 spectators per season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Holding GrazcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe most modern municipal service company in Austria promotes Oper Graz as part of its cultural sponsorship, supporting quality and sustainability in Graz.
• E-Werk FRANZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy sponsor of Oper Graz, providing electrical services for performances.
• Kleine ZeitungcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing media partner providing press coverage and helping put Oper Graz in the spotlight.
• Ö1 Club (ORF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station club partnership since many years. Ö1 Club members receive 10% discount, Ö1 intro members (under 30) receive 30% discount on tickets.
• Universität GrazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting science and culture between the university and Oper Graz.
• Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including Opernstudio which prepares young singers after their education for the opera stage. Various joint productions throughout the year.
• KirchenwirtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaterer for Oper Graz providing beverages and refreshments at bars during performances. Also offers pre-order service and online ordering.
• John Harris FitnessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFitness center partner (3,500m² on 3 levels) offering special performance packages to members with views of Oper Graz.
• Checkit CardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth discount program for those under 27, offering 50% off tickets and last-minute tickets for €8.
• Odilien InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for accessibility services providing live audio description for blind and visually impaired guests at two performances per season.
• Radio Klassik StephansdomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly radio series 'Oper, öffne dich!' airing on the fourth Monday at 19:00, featuring behind-the-scenes content and artist interviews.
• La Strada FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual street theater festival comes to Oper Graz, bringing diverse performing arts to the venue.
• Shopping NordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShopping center in northern Graz offering joint promotions and events with Oper Graz.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Theater an der Wien: Vienna-based theater and opera venue specializing in opera and musical theater productions. Comparable as a multi-form opera presenter in the DACH region.
• Volksoper Wien: Vienna's largest opera house presenting opera, operetta, musical, and ballet programming, with a similarly broad repertoire and comparable scale. Closest direct peer in Austria to Oper Graz.
• Wiener Staatsoper: Austria's flagship opera house with full opera, ballet, and orchestral programming. Directly comparable in core offering though larger in scale and prestige than Oper Graz.
• Komische Oper Berlin: Berlin opera house with a contemporary, family-friendly repertoire. Directly comparable — even co-produced Oper Graz's Tom Sawyer production — making it a strong cross-border peer.
• Oper Frankfurt: Mid-sized German opera house frequently ranked among Europe's leading houses, offering full opera and orchestral programming with an in-house orchestra, mirroring Oper Graz's structure.
• Oper Stuttgart: Stuttgart's opera house with full opera, ballet, and orchestral programming. Comparable in scale, repertoire breadth, and the integration of resident ensemble, orchestra, and ballet company.
• Bayerische Staatsoper: Munich's state opera, one of the world's leading opera houses with opera, ballet, and orchestra. Direct peer in the broader German-speaking opera market.
• Semperoper Dresden: Historic German opera house with full opera, ballet, and orchestral programming. Comparable as a long-established (founded 1841) opera institution with resident ensemble and orchestra.
• Salzburger Festspiele: Premier Austrian performing arts festival presenting opera, drama, and orchestral concerts. Peer to Oper Graz in the Austrian high-culture market though seasonally focused rather than year-round.
• Oper Zürich: Switzerland's largest opera house with full opera, ballet, and Philharmonic programming. Comparable in scale, repertoire breadth, and operational model as a regional anchor opera institution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQ6cXaNr4FnLKgCiLfB7Uvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/OperGraz
• Instagraminstagram.com/opergraz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oper Graz