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Erfurt Travel Guide: 351 reviews and 816 photos
Germany's newest opera house is located in Erfurt, the capital city of Thüringen. This is the only new opera house to have been built in Germany so far in the 21st century. (The last one in the 20th century was the one in Kaiserslautern that was completed in 1995.)
The building is in the shape of a rectangle with a glass front by a reflecting pool. Inside there is a striking white spiral staircase and a large black funnel which is actually the part of the main hall where the spectators sit.
The first performance I saw in this fine new building was the premiere of a new production of the opera Jenufa, by Leos Janacek (1854-1928), with Hedwig Fassbender as Kostelnicka.
Janacek was a Czech composer who wrote nine operas in his lifetime. Jenufa was first performed in 1904, when he was fifty, and he wrote most of his other operas when he was well over sixty. Legend has it that he used to sit around in the park noting down what people said, in Czech, all around him, and noting down the melodies they said it in. Then he worked these melodies into his operas, so there is a tight fit between the words and the music. That's why his operas are almost always performed in the original Czech, even if none of the singers or spectators understands that language.
One of my recent visits to Erfurt was to see the operetta Die Dollarprinzessin (The Dollar Princess) by Leo Fall (1873-1925), starring Frauke Schäfer as Alice.
This operetta was first performed in Vienna in 1907, at a time when rich American heiresses were all trying to find European aristocrats to get married to.
Alice in the operetta runs her father's company with an iron hand, and has no time or patience for men of any sort, aristocrats or not. Of course she finally does fall for one, but not until there have been all sorts of wild complications and a trip to Europe. The music is fun, and the Erfurt production is quite clever, including among other things a swimming pool full of dollars, as in a Scrooge McDuck comic.
Updates in 2009: Here on my Erfurt page I have updated the Thanks Willy! tip because the building where Willy Brandt once appeared at the window has now been salvaged and renovated, so it looks a lot different now than it did in 2004. I have also put in a tip about a new restaurant in that building and added an update and two new tips to the Erfurt transportation category.
Reviews (24)
Cycling in Erfurt
Transportation
(3)
Photos: 1. Hesitating at the entrance to the tunnel 2. Cycling at the main station 3. Another cyclist at the... more travel advice
Radhaus = Bicycle House
Transportation
(3)
Photos: 1. Bicycle House by the main railroad station 2. Free double-decker bicycle parking 3. Bicycle rentals and... more travel advice
Facing the main railroad station
Restaurants
(3)
It says Willy B. over the door, and this is the same building where Willy Brandt stayed during his brief but historic... more travel advice
Station of the year 2009
Transportation
(3)
Photos: 1. Erfurt main railroad station, 2009 2. Train to Frankfurt arriving at Erfurt main station, 2009 3.... more travel advice
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Things to Do (13)
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Erfurt Travel Guide
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- 24 Reviews
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- Commented on alancollins's Erfurt Page
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Latest: Mar 26, 2012 - Ramada Treff Erfurt
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Latest: May 15, 2012 - Hotel Zumnorde Am Anger
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Latest: Aug 4, 2010 - Bruehlerhoehe
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Latest: Jun 17, 2011 - Country Inn By Carlson Erfurt Apfelstadt
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Latest: Mar 26, 2012 - Pension Reuss
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Latest: May 11, 2012 - Flair Hotel Waldfrieden
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Latest: Oct 14, 2011 - Sorat IBB Hotel Erfurt
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Latest: Apr 18, 2011 - Romantik Bergund Jagdhotel Gabelbach
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Latest: Nov 21, 2010
Comments (30)
An enjoyable virtual visit to Erfurt. The inhabited bridge and the cathedral look like sights worth seeing. Now I must check out some of your other Thuringia pages!
Very interesting story about Willy Brandt's visit! The river and mill look quite rural and rather pretty, and the cathedral especially lovely at night.
Fabulous updates about Erfurt here. I would love to visit the city in summer, as I have only been there in winter time.
Again me, touring Germany virtually with you. Nice page and place but I guess it won't be my "German destination" ;-) Thanks for sharing
Stopped for lunch 1 day b/ only made it to Rathaus. I missed a lot; this "nicht alltäglich" page has me wanting to return. Only thing worse than name dropping is alluding to it, now you have us thinking: one thing you are very good at.Long live libraries.
Your detail and history of this town is fascinating and well researched. You surely due a to notch job of presentation, and the houses on the bridge unique. Thank you
Excellent info on this historic city. This city and region are very appealing to me. I may visit Erfurt during my travels this Fall.
I met up with VT member Evona and her husband in Erfurt. for a nice lunch in one of the town's older restaurants.
Icredible, this inhabited bridge. I knew it was common in the past, but I am surprized to see there is still one in Germany. However the street looks cute, I am not sure I would live to live in one of those houses.
Most interesting reading - Erfurt was one of three cities we wanted to visit but just didn't have time, for its historic significance and ambience. Your ground level picture of the Gera is really good and I loved the roof pictures. N.
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