opera house
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opera house
A building designed and used specifically for performances of operas, and often also for ballet or concerts.
Die Wiener Staatsoper ist eines der berühmtesten Opernhäuser der Welt.
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most famous opera houses in the world.
The word is made up of 'Opern' (plural form of 'Oper' (opera)) and 'Haus' (house). So it is literally a 'house for operas'.
Das neue Opernhaus der Stadt wurde erst letztes Jahr eröffnet.
The city's new opera house opened just last year.
The preposition 'in' is used with the accusative or dative depending on the context. Movement toward a place is expressed with 'ins Opernhaus' (into the opera house), while being or staying there is described with 'im Opernhaus' (in the opera house).
Wir gehen heute Abend ins Opernhaus.
We're going to the opera house tonight.
Whether the building (m01) or the institution (m02) is meant can be recognized from the verb. Verbs like 'besuchen' (to visit), 'bauen' (to build), or 'renovieren' (to renovate) refer to the building. Verbs like 'entscheiden' (to decide), 'planen' (to plan), or 'einstellen' (to hire) refer to the institution.
Das alte Opernhaus wird gerade aufwendig saniert.
The old opera house is currently being extensively renovated.
theater
'das Theater' and 'das Opernhaus' can both be buildings for performances. But they are not the same thing. In a theater, you mainly see stage plays, and sometimes other forms of performing arts as well. In an opera house, operas are mainly performed, often also ballet or concerts. The risk of confusion arises because operas also take place on a stage, and an opera house can seem like a special kind of theater. When it is about opera with music and singing, 'Opernhaus' is more precise; for plays or performing arts in general, 'Theater' fits.
In der Pause sprechen die Besucher im Opernhaus über die Sängerin.
During the intermission, the visitors at the opera house talk about the singer.
Mein Freund kauft Karten für ein neues Stück im Theater.
My friend is buying tickets for a new play at the theater.