When does the matinee take place?

The matinee for Nabucco takes place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 11:00 am in the Grand House of the State Theater Cottbus.

Is the admission to the matinee free?

Yes, admission is free. Free tickets are available through the visitor service, at the box office on site, and online.

Where does the event take place?

The venue is the Grand House of the State Theater Cottbus at Schillerplatz 1, 03046 Cottbus.

What is the matinee about?

The matinee provides insights into the production of Verdi's Nabucco, in directing, stage, costumes, and musical work, as well as in the interpretation of the material.

Is the theater accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the Grand House is suitable for wheelchairs and has a hearing loop. Registration is recommended.

Are there already any details about the premiere performance?

Yes, the premiere of Nabucco is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 7:30 pm in the Grand House.

Verdi's Nabucco before the premiere: Cottbus opens the workshop of musical theater

Name: Matinee for: Nabucco
Start: 2026-04-12T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-04-12T14:30:00+02:00
Location: Großes Haus

Verdi's great opera of freedom in discussion: The Matinee for Nabucco in Cottbus

On Sunday, April 12, 2026, the Grand House of the State Theater Cottbus will open its curtains at 11:00 am for a matinee that is much more than a classic introduction. Here, the anticipation for Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco condenses into a vibrant stage experience that focuses on directing, musical theater, and historical interpretation. The event is designed as a free entry to the new production and offers a direct look behind the artistic workshop of this production. ([maerkischer-bote.de](https://maerkischer-bote.de/unterhaltung/matinee-zu-nabucco-im-grossen-haus-in-cottbus-249030))

A masterpiece between exile, power, and hope

Verdi's Nabucco is one of those operas that has never lost its impact: The work suddenly made the young composer famous in 1842 and combines dramatic weight with the famous prisoner chorus Va, pensiero, which to this day is regarded as the epitome of collective longing. The Cottbus production relocates the ancient events to Norilsk in Siberia, sharpening the focus on isolation, oppression, and the fragile hope for redemption. ([staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-nabucco.html))

Direction, stage design, and musical tension

Director Armin Petras, music director Alexander Merzyn, as well as stage, costume, and dramaturgy shape a work that thinks of the material not in a museum-like way, but in a contemporary context. According to theater notes, the production includes an explicit depiction of self-harm; thus, the production relies on a visual language with great psychological intensity. This is exactly what gives the matinee its appeal: It opens the space for discussions about direction, character development, stage design, and the power of the choir as the collective voice of a people. ([staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/repertoire/artikel-nabucco.html))

A morning with a behind-the-scenes view

The matinee promises insights into the artistic creation of the production, musical contributions, and conversations with participants such as Armin Petras, Natascha von Steiger, Andreas Jäpel, Tatiana Trenogina, Yasushi Hirano, and dramaturge Leonora Mense. This makes the morning a small premiere of thoughts: Those who want to experience the opera not just by hearing but also by understanding can experience the dramaturgy of Nabucco already before the actual premiere evening on April 25, 2026. ([maerkischer-bote.de](https://maerkischer-bote.de/unterhaltung/matinee-zu-nabucco-im-grossen-haus-in-cottbus-249030))

Theater atmosphere in the Grand House

The Grand House at Schillerplatz 1 is one of the most distinctive theater buildings in the region, an Art Nouveau building with around 600 seats, hearing loop, and wheelchair access. For getting there, several parking options and a good public transport connection are available; the house is reachable by bus and tram. Thus, the matinee visit becomes a relaxed theater experience organizationally. ([staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/staatstheater/spielstaetten/artikel-grosses-haus.html))

Conclusion

Anyone wanting to experience Verdi's Nabucco in Cottbus in advance as a thoughtfully curated insight will find here a cultural-journalistic morning with substance, atmosphere, and operatic tension. The matinee arouses curiosity for a rarely performed return after more than 60 years and makes one eager to experience the premiere in the Grand House live. ([maerkischer-bote.de](https://maerkischer-bote.de/unterhaltung/matinee-zu-nabucco-im-grossen-haus-in-cottbus-249030))