Public theatre in Augsburg dates back to 1630, when the
Meistersinger initiated plays in the Welserstadel. The first opera was performed in 1696 or 1697, conducted by
Johann Sigismund Kusser aufgeführt. The
Stadttheater opened in 1776 and offered a stage for guest ensembles.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited the theatre in October 1777. His opera
Don Giovanni was performed already in 1787, the year of the premiere,
Die Zauberflöte followed on 21 January 1793.
Emanuel Schikaneder was the director several times. On 1 January 1876, the Magistrat decided for a new theatre building. The first performance in the Großes Haus was Beethoven's
Fidelio on 26 November 1877. Notable musical directors were
István Kertész (1958–1963) and
Bruno Weil (1981–1989), among others. In 1999 the theatre became a municipal
Eigenbetrieb. Since 1 September 2018 Theatre Augsburg is a State Theatre ("Staatstheater Augsburg"). == Conductors ==