The German Theatre Publishers' Prize will be awarded this year to the Dortmund Opera. Under the artistic direction of Heribert Germeshausen, it has developed into one of the most distinguished houses for contemporary music theatre in the German-speaking world, the Association of German Stage and Media Publishers (VDB) announced on Wednesday in Berlin. The non-monetary prize will be awarded on May 16th at the gala celebrating "60 Years of the Dortmund Opera House".

Dortmund Opera House

The Dortmund Opera offers a diverse repertoire of contemporary works, the jury explained. By commissioning new operas and staging new productions, it consistently focuses on supporting living composers and authors, giving them space to explore new narrative styles, such as composer Sarah Nemtsov with her opera "WIR (WE)," whose world premiere is planned for May.

The jury, chaired by Joscha Schaback (Schott Music), also praised the commitment of the Young Opera Dortmund, for which the position of "Composer in Residence" was specifically created, as well as participatory formats such as "We DO Opera!" and the "Beyond Opera" festival. They expressly commended the curatorial quality of the dramaturgy and the creativity of the outreach work. "The Dortmund Opera not only provides a permanent home for contemporary music theatre, but also actively works to cultivate the next generation of audiences with contemporary artistic perspectives," they stated.

The German Theatre Publishers' Prize has been awarded annually since 2006, alternating between a theatre and an opera house. Previous recipients include the Hanover State Opera, the New Opera Vienna, and the music theatre division of the German National Theatre Weimar.

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