What Deutsche Oper Berlin does

Deutsche Oper Berlin is a major Berlin opera house located at Bismarckstraße 35 in Berlin-Charlottenburg, operating as an artistic establishment under the Stiftung Oper in Berlin (Berlin Opera Foundation), a public foundation under the governance of the State of Berlin. It is one of Berlin's three major opera houses alongside Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Komische Oper Berlin, and maintains a full resident orchestra, chorus, and singing ensemble plus a Tischlerei experimental studio venue, foyer spaces, and a restaurant. Programming spans a wide repertoire from Handel and Wagner to contemporary works such as the upcoming German-premiere staging of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht in September 2026.

The institution serves general opera audiences, families and young audiences through the Junge Deutsche Oper program, schools and Kita facilities through educational outreach, and professional singers through the Orchestra Academy and international exchange partnerships (notably a Korea National Opera/KNO Studio arrangement since 2024). Distribution runs through a direct-to-consumer channel mix: an online webshop (powered by CTS EVENTIM), a telephone hotline, a physical box office, the Deutsche Oper Card season subscription (priority access from April 15 ahead of May 2 general sale), and a Förderkreis supporters' circle.

Revenue is generated through three streams: ticket sales (transaction-based unit pricing with group discounts), recurring season subscriptions (Deutsche Oper Card), and a combination of public cultural funding (Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Auswärtiges Amt, Lotto-Stiftung Berlin) and corporate sponsorship (Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom, TUI). The company is non-profit and does not disclose financial figures; general direction of the foundation rests with General Director Georg Vierthaler, with Aviel Cahn taking over as Intendant in September 2026.

Name

Deutsche Oper Berlin

Legal name

Deutsche Oper Berlin

Website

https://deutscheoperberlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Deutsche Oper Berlin is a publicly funded Berlin opera house (under Stiftung Oper in Berlin) that produces opera, concerts, and youth programming across a main stage and Tischlerei experimental venue, serving general audiences, families, and international artistic talent via ticketing, subscriptions, and patronage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Opera and Performing Arts

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Opera performances
• Music theatre
• Classical concerts
• Live performing arts
• Opera season subscriptions

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of tickets for opera performances, concerts, and events. Tickets are sold via web shop, telephone, and box office with published pricing.
2. Season Subscriptions (Deutsche Oper Card): Annual subscription program offering discounted advance access to performances. Members of Förderkreis and Deutsche Oper Card 26/27 holders get priority ticket purchasing starting April 15.
3. Sponsorships and Cultural Funding: Support from public funding bodies (Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Auswärtiges Amt) and corporate sponsors (Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Telekom AG, TUI) for specific productions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deutsche Oper Berlin is a contemporary music theatre that produces and presents opera performances, concerts, and music theatre events on its main stage (Hauptbühne) and studio venue (Tischlerei), performed by a resident orchestra, chorus, and ensemble. It operates a 2026/27 season repertoire spanning baroque to contemporary works, including German classics, co-productions, and youth programming. Support offerings include season subscriptions (Deutsche Oper Card), a supporters' circle (Förderkreis), an Orchestra Academy, and educational outreach for young audiences.

Product overview

Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera house offering a unified artistic program centered on live operatic and musical theater performances. The main stage hosts the core repertoire of classic and contemporary operas, supported by the resident orchestra and chorus. The Tischlerei studio venue specializes in experimental, children's, and innovative productions. Youth and family programming is delivered through the 'Junge Deutsche Oper' brand. Ancillary services include a video archive, publications, editorial content, ticket sales (via external CTS EVENTIM platform), audio description accessibility services, dining amenities, and a supporting foundation with scholarship programs. The portfolio is structured as a single artistic institution with multiple venue and programming brands serving different audience segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hauptbühne (Main Stage) Opera Productions The primary opera stage at Deutsche Oper Berlin featuring performances of the main repertoire including classic and contemporary operas, concerts, and special productions, for general opera audiences in Berlin.
• Tischlerei Studio Venue A studio venue within the Deutsche Oper Berlin complex, hosting experimental productions, children's concerts, jazz performances, and innovative music theater works including the Jazz & Lyrics series, for audiences seeking contemporary and experimental performances.
• Junge Deutsche Oper (Young Opera) Programs for children, youth, and families providing access to music theater through concerts, opera performances, and activities both in schools/kindergartens and during leisure time at the main stage, Tischlerei, and foyer venues, for young audiences and families.
• Orchesterakademie (Orchestra Academy) A 2-year training program associated with the Orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin, offering a monthly stipend of €1,000 plus an HTV allowance of €840 after the probationary year, for aspiring professional orchestral musicians.
• Deutsche Oper Card Season Subscription Annual membership card offering advance ticket purchasing privileges before general public sales, for opera enthusiasts who want priority access to season 26/27 performances.
• Konzertsaison (Concert Season) Concert programming including symphony concerts, the Philharmonie Berlin performances, and special concert events such as Gurrelieder, for classical music concert attendees.
• Statisterie (Extras Casting) Extras casting service for stage productions, accepting applications via email and downloadable application forms, for individuals seeking stage extra roles in opera productions.
• Mittwoch aus Licht (Stockhausen) German premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht, the first-ever staging as an opera production in the German-speaking world, for opera audiences interested in contemporary and avant-garde productions.
• Zar und Zimmermann (Lortzing) Premiere of Albert Lortzing's Zar und Zimmermann, a comedic opera returning to Berlin stages after being absent for 25 years, for opera audiences interested in German classics.
• Endlich (Ahmetjanova / Angerer) Music theater work co-created by young Latvian composer Asia Ahmetjanova and director Franziska Angerer, coproduction with Münchener Biennale, premiered in Munich and Berlin, for audiences interested in contemporary music theatre.
• Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Handel) Premiere of Georg Friedrich Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto, a Baroque opera production of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, for audiences interested in baroque opera repertoire.
• Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Premiere of Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles as part of his farewell performances, for audiences interested in German Romantic opera.
• Tintenfischlady (Corbett) World premiere (Uraufführung) of Sidney Corbett's Tintenfischlady opera, for audiences interested in world premieres and contemporary opera.
• Die drei Rätsel (Glanert) Premiere of Detlev Glanert's Die drei Rätsel opera, for contemporary opera audiences.
• Violanta (Korngold) Premiere of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violanta opera, for audiences interested in early 20th-century opera repertoire.
• La fiamma (Respighi) Premiere of Ottorino Respighi's La fiamma in Christof Loy's production, released as Blu-ray by EuroArts, for audiences interested in early 20th-century Italian opera.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 performances accumulated by principal singers during their tenure, demonstrating high-volume production capacity.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Korea National Opera (KNO) / KNO Studio ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for training and placement of Korean opera singers at Deutsche Oper Berlin. Since 2024, the German company and KNO each cover half of each singer's salary. Three Korean singers (Kim Geon, Choi Young, Roh Min-hyung) have participated, with Kim and Roh completing their contracts having performed lead and principal roles respectively, and Choi beginning tenure in August.
• HauptstadtkulturfondscoreOthersGerman federal cultural funding body providing financial support for specific productions at Deutsche Oper Berlin.
• Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office)minorOthersGerman government body supporting international cultural exchange productions.
• Deutsche Bank AGminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Deutsche Oper Berlin productions.
• Deutsche Telekom AGminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Deutsche Oper Berlin productions.
• TUIminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Deutsche Oper Berlin productions.
• Josef BuchmannminorOthersIndividual sponsor supporting Deutsche Oper Berlin productions.
• Philharmonie de PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht premiere (September 2026), in cooperation with Berlin Festspiele/Musikfest Berlin.
• Berlin Festspiele / Musikfest BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht and symphony concert 'Light on Parsifal' (September 2026).
• Lotto-Stiftung BerlinminorOthersFoundation providing support for the Mittwoch aus Licht production.
• Förderkreis der Deutschen Oper BerlincoreOthersSupporters' association providing both financial support and scholarship funding (€1,000 monthly for orchestra academy trainees).
• Le Balcon EnsemblecoreTechnology or IntegrationMusical ensemble specializing in contemporary music, led by Maxime Pascal (Principal Guest Conductor), performing Stockhausen's LICHT cycle. Previously performed all parts except Mittwoch.
• Münchner BiennaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Asia Ahmetjanova and Franziska Angerer's music theatre work 'ENDLICH', with premiere in Munich and Berlin premiere at Deutsche Oper Berlin Tischlerei.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Staatsoper Unter den Linden: Berlin's flagship opera house located on Unter den Linden, also operated by the Stiftung Oper in Berlin. Directly comparable as a German opera institution sharing the same parent foundation, full resident ensemble, and Berlin metro audience.
• Komische Oper Berlin: Third opera house within the Stiftung Oper in Berlin umbrella, focused on lighter opera, operetta, and contemporary works. Directly comparable in scale, governance, and Berlin audience competition.
• Bayerische Staatsoper: Munich's state opera, one of Germany's leading opera houses with full resident orchestra (Bayerisches Staatsorchester) and chorus. Comparable in scale, German state opera governance model, and repertory breadth.
• Semperoper Dresden: Historic Saxon State Opera with resident Sächsische Staatskapelle and chorus. Comparable as a German state opera house with broad repertoire, subscription model, and similar institutional structure.
• Hamburg State Opera: One of Germany's largest opera houses with Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg. Directly comparable in size, programming scope, and public-foundation operating model.
• Wiener Staatsoper: Austrian national opera house with full resident ensemble and an extensive repertory model similar to Deutsche Oper Berlin. Comparable in scale, programming depth, and public opera-house operating model in the German-speaking world.
• Opéra national de Paris: French national opera with full resident orchestra, chorus, and ballet. Comparable as a publicly funded, large-scale European opera institution with similar repertory breadth and multi-venue infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Opera House: London's leading opera house at Covent Garden with Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Comparable as a major European opera institution with broader brand and international audience reach.

Regional players

• Royal Danish Opera: Copenhagen-based opera institution with resident ensemble under the Royal Danish Theatre. Comparable as a publicly funded European opera house with similar repertory breadth, though smaller scale and geographically distinct.

Others

• Philharmonie de Paris: Major Paris concert venue and co-production partner for Deutsche Oper Berlin's Stockhausen Mittwoch aus Licht. Comparable as a partner institution in high-prestige contemporary music programming rather than a direct opera competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deutsche_oper
• YouTubeyoutube.com/DeutscheOperBerlin
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/DeutscheOperBerlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsche-oper-berlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/deutscheoperberlin
• TikToktiktok.com/@deutscheoperberlin

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Deutsche Oper Berlin