Germany's national theatre has stood on the Theaterplatz since 1791, when Goethe was its director. The current building dates from 1907 — the earlier structures were lost to fires — but the institution's continuity is remarkable. Goethe directed premieres here, Liszt conducted here, and Richard Strauss served as musical director. The Staatskapelle Weimar, the house orchestra, traces its history back to 1491, making it one of the oldest orchestras in the world.
The programme runs year-round with opera, drama, and orchestral concerts. Tickets are surprisingly affordable compared to equivalent houses in Berlin or Munich. Even if you do not attend a performance, the building itself is worth a look from the Theaterplatz, particularly lit up at night with the Goethe-Schiller monument in the foreground.