Burgtheater

Burgtheater, main theatre of Vienna, the national theatre of Austria, and one of the most famous and important of German-language theatres. Originally founded in 1776 by Emperor Joseph II as a national, that is permanent, state-subsidized theatre, the Burgtheater achieved its greatest fame in the mid-19th century, when it showcased some of the finest directors and performers in the German-speaking world. It was celebrated for its individual and mannered house traditions of delivery, the so-called Burgtheater style. In 1888 it was moved from its original building to a Renaissance Revival building created as part of the Ringstrasse redevelopment of Vienna: the building was virtually destroyed during World War II, and the present theatre is a reconstruction. The Burgtheater has retained its cultural importance to the present day.