National Opera du Rhin, Strasbourg

The Opéra National du Rhin functions as an opera group situated in Alsace. This company comprises the Opéra in Strasbourg, the ballet company in Mulhouse (recognized as a national hub for choreography since 1985), and the "Opéra Studio" (previously known as the "Jeunes Voix du Rhin"), an educational center for budding vocalists, located in Colmar.

In 1701, Strasbourg's first opera house was created from a granary. A new Municipal Theater was built in 1821 at Place Broglie after a fire. It endured damage during a 1870 German bombardment, but was rebuilt and reopened in 1873. Renowned conductors like Pfitzner, Furtwängler, Klemperer, and Szell led the opera until 1919. From 1948 to 1953, Roger Lalande introduced French opera premieres including Peter Grimes (1949), Mathis der Maler (1951), and The Rake's Progress (1952).

The fact that the company holds the designation of a "national opera" since 1997 underscores its significance. The company presents around seven to eight operatic productions each season in Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Colmar. With over thirty years of existence, the Alsace-based experience has become an exemplary model. While maintaining a strong dedication to its local and European origins, the Opéra National du Rhin has evolved into an institution within the realm of French lyrical artistry. This was acknowledged through international recognition in November 1997 when it was granted the title of "Opera".