OPER - OPÉRA

Surrounded by major thoroughfares, the Opéra is a large, modern building of unadorned grey stone, inaugurated in 1957. This is a far cry from the lively music of Offenbach, who was born in Cologne in 1819 and whose name the square bears. The Cologne Lyric Company in its modern form has existed since 1947, but its roots go back much further. The Gürzenich Orchestra is the opera house's principal orchestra, offering a top-flight repertoire. Some 1,300 seats are available for performances, combining the great classics with contemporary creations.