Opera national du Rhin

L'Opéra National du Rhin is an opera company which performs in Alsace, eastern France, and which includes the Opéra in Strasbourg, the company's ballet in Mulhouse (a national Centre for choreography since 1985), and the "Opéra Studio" (formerly the "Jeunes Voix du Rhin"), a training centre for young singers, in Colmar. A reflection of its importance is the status of “national opera” which it has held since 1997. Performances of seven or eight operas per season are given in Strasburg, Mulhouse and Colmar.

The first opera house opened in Strasburg in 1701 in a converted granary. After a fire and temporary locations, a new Theatre Municipal opened in the Place Broglie in 1821. This building was virtually gutted during the German bombardment of 1870, but it was rebuilt in identical style, re-opening in 1873.