A handsome neoclassical opera house finished in 1852 by Georg Friedrich Laves, the architect responsible for much of post-Napoleonic Hanover. The Staatsoper has been the resident company since the 1850s and runs a strong programme of opera and ballet from September to June. The ensemble has a reputation for thoughtful, sometimes provocative productions of standard repertoire.
The square in front — the Opernplatz — is one of the more graceful open spaces in the centre. Tickets are notably cheaper than for the bigger southern German houses.