"Opera and cycling in Bad Orb" Bad Orb by Nemorino

Bad Orb Travel Guide: 24 reviews and 34 photos

Bad Orb is a nice little town in the Spessart hills in the German state of Hessen, about 60 km to the east of Frankfurt.

Quellenring, Bad Orb

Since it only had 9,779 inhabitants at last count (down 208 from five years ago), you will not be shocked to learn that there is no opera house in Bad Orb. But what is does have is the Bad Orb Opera Academy under the direction of retired opera singer Carlos Krause.

Opera performances have been held in Bad Orb every summer since 1987, but I only started coming in 2001, after getting to know Carlos Krause in Frankfurt. The operas I have seen in Bad Orb so far are:

Bedrich Smetana, Die verkaufte Braut (The Bartered Bride) in 2001
Georges Bizet, Carmen in 2002
Albert Lortzing, Zar und Zimmermann (The Tsar and the Carpenter) in 2003
Eugen D’Albert, Tiefland in 2004
Peter I. Tschaikowsky, Eugen Onegin in 2005
Ludwig van Beethoven, Fidelio in 2006
Gaetano Donizetti, Don Pasquale in 2007
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Così fan tutte in 2008
Johann Strauss Jr., Die Fledermaus (The Bat) in 2009
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Don Giovanni in 2010
Giacomo Rossini, The Barber of Seville in 2011

Their 2012 production will be the opera The Merry Wives of Windsor by the nineteenth century German composer Otto Nicolai (1810-1849). This is an opera which is now seldom performed in the large opera houses but is having something of a comeback at the smaller houses and summer festivals. I saw it three times, with somewhat different casts, in the summer of 2009 in an open-air production in the courtyard of Weikersheim castle. In the same summer a different production of The Merry Wives of Windsor was performed in the Stiftsruine in Bad Hersfeld.

Bad Orb

Bad Orb is in the Orb Valley on a creek or small river which is also called the Orb. To cycle here from Frankfurt, just follow the regional cycling route R3 up the Main and Kinzig Valleys, then turn right into the Orb Valley. The town is five kilometers upstream from the Kinzig.

My "Off the Beaten Path" cycling tips begin at the Wegscheide up on a pass four kilometers to the east of Bad Orb, and continue down the Jossa and Sinn Valleys to Gemünden, where the Sinn flows into the Main River. The tour is continued beyond there on my Germany page.

Last visit to Bad Orb: Aug 2011
Intro Updated Aug 19, 2011
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (23)

Walls, gates and towers Favorites (1)

-- The first mention of Orb in any known document was from the year 1050, but it must have been quite a small... more travel advice

Not exactly a youth hostel Hotels (3)

This is one of Bad Orb's many bed and breakfast places intended for people who are staying for a week or two to cure... more travel advice

Applause at the end of Don Giovanni in 2010 - Bad Orb

Don Giovanni in 2010 Things to Do (7)

The twenty-fourth summer production of the Opera Academy in Bad Orb was Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart... more travel advice

Carlos Krause and Michael Millard - Bad Orb

Die Fledermaus (The Bat) in 2009 Things to Do (7)

The twenty-third summer production of the Opera Academy in Bad Orb was the very popular operetta Die Fledermaus (The... more travel advice

Off The Beaten Path (9)
See All Reineck

Transportation (3)
See All No more train service to Bad Orb

Comments (39)

Trekki Mar 11, 2012 at 1:37 AM Report Abuse

Came back to see how Bad Orb looks because I am on the way in 2 hours to celebrate 80th birthday of my dad :-)
Yaqui Sep 21, 2011 at 9:54 PM Report Abuse

Being able to bicycle through town to sightsee sounds so fun and very educational. The towns looks fascinating. Nice page Don!
bugulma Aug 30, 2010 at 11:39 PM Report Abuse

interesting performances they have every summer!! and I like Burgjoss tow with its spelling name as well as for the interesting history
yumyum Oct 4, 2009 at 2:23 AM Report Abuse

Great that you enjoyed another performance so close to home!
toonsarah Sep 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM Report Abuse

This looks such a pretty town. I love the half-timbered houses in your openin shot, and the Gradierwerk sounds fascinating :-)
HORSCHECK Aug 24, 2009 at 1:07 PM Report Abuse

Fantastic new tip for those who live less than 7 km away from the nearest opera house. *winkygrin*
nomorewars Jun 29, 2009 at 9:38 PM Report Abuse

Don, the Jossa Valley appears to be an interesting place for a hike. I did a great deal of hiking while living in Germany, but never managed to hike anywhere near Bad Orb.
Sagespot Aug 22, 2008 at 11:20 AM Report Abuse

What fantastic deals on accommodations!! It looks so beautiful! Cheers - Sage
VeronicaG Jun 12, 2008 at 6:38 AM Report Abuse

It's hard to believe the 'water castle' is so old--part of its construction from the 1500's...400 years of continued use....amazing!
globetrott May 2, 2008 at 11:08 AM Report Abuse

so viel Radfahren würde auch mir sehr gut-tun, aber über ein paar lausige km komme ich nie hinaus ;-((