Wrocław Opera, Wroclaw

The Wrocław Opera, situated in the historic Old Town of Wrocław, holds a significant place in the city's cultural landscape. This opera company and its splendid opera house have a storied history dating back to 1841 when it first opened its doors to music enthusiasts. During its early years, from its inception until 1945, it bore the name "Oper Breslau," reflecting the city's German identity at the time.

The roots of opera in Breslau (now Wrocław) trace back even further. In 1725, the city witnessed the establishment of an Italian opera company under the leadership of Antonio Maria Peruzzi. This development followed a professional parting of ways between Peruzzi and Antonio Denzio, who had previously collaborated in the Peruzzi-Denzio company at the Sporck theatre in Prague.

A notable milestone in Breslau's operatic history occurred in 1755 when the "Theater on the Cold Ashes" was inaugurated by Franz von Schuch (1716–1764). This venue became a hub for opera performances, enchanting audiences with its musical offerings until von Schuch's passing in 1764.

The narrative of the Wrocław Opera underwent a transformative chapter following the conclusion of World War II and the shift of Breslau into Polish territory. It was on September 8, 1945, that the Lower Silesian Opera took its first bow in the newly christened Polish city of Wrocław. During the period from 1945 to 1950, the opera house expanded its scope beyond opera, accommodating theater, puppet theater, and operetta performances within its hallowed halls.