Culture
Exploring the city´s cultural life
The foundations for the city's cultural life were laid during the eras of the rulers of Nassau and Prussia, when Wiesbaden became a place for intellectuals and artists to meet. Take some time to get to know the city and discover its many facets. You will be inspired.
Goethe felt inspired here, Brahms composed the "Wiesbadener Symphonie" (Wiesbaden Symphony), Dostoyevsky conducted extensive studies in the casino for "The Gambler", Wagner worked on his opera "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg) in a villa on the Rhine, Max Reger lived for a long time in Wiesbaden, and painters like Otto Ritschl and Alexey von Jawlensky spent the autumn of their lives here.
The focus of cultural life is the Hessisches Staatstheater (Hessian State Theater) which can look back on a tradition of over one hundred years with its Internationale Maifestspiele (International May Theater Festival). It was Emperor William II, together with Richard Wagner, who initiated the first opera festival at the newly constructed Neo-Baroque style building in 1896.
A popular venue for social and commercial events is the neoclassical Kurhaus (Spa House), which accommodating beautiful salons and halls plus a magnificent Casino. Here world-class orchestras and famous artists meet in the unique ambiance of the Friedrich von Thiersch Halle (Friedrich von Thiersch Hall) or for open-air events in the charming "Kurhaus" surroundings. In addition to traditional concerts, the "Kurhaus" sets highlights in the city's cultural scene with a variety of events.
An extensive cultural program is presented by the successful Rheingauer Musikfestival (Rheingau Music Festival) which was founded in 1988. From the end of May to the beginning of September outstanding artistic performances may be enjoyed in historic buildings and enchanting landscapes.
The Museum Wiesbaden (Wiesbaden Museum) with its permanent Jawlensky art collection, and exhibitions with emphasis on international contemporary art, and a number of art galleries and varieté theaters offer a comprehensive range of the most varied forms of art and culture.
External links:
Museum Wiesbaden(Wiesbaden Museum)
Aktives Museum Spiegelgasse für Deutsch-Jüdische Geschichte in Wiesbaden e.V." (Active Museum Spiegelgasse for German-Jewish History in Wiesbaden)
Hessisches Staatstheater (Hessian State Theater)
