Description of the attraction
The Lehar Theater is located in the heart of the spa town of Bad Ischl and has long been one of the most famous and beloved summer theaters in Austria.
Its history began back in 1793, when the local theater became cramped in the attic of the artist Lucas Krall, where it was then located, and the need arose to erect its own building. For these purposes, Dr. Franz Wierer provided his own land plot, and the architect Franz Ferdinand Edangler created the Ischl spa theater, as it was then called.
The theater of that time had a rather small stage, and the auditorium could accommodate no more than 400 people, including seating and standing places. From 1827 to 1947, during the summer period, regular theatrical and operetta performances were held here. The Ishler Spa Orchestra provided musical accompaniment, but it could only do so in bad weather. In 1857 the theater acquired its own orchestra. Ischl has always been a place of attraction for the Austrian nobility, and later became the summer residence of the Kaiser, so the theater did not lack a noble audience.
Such famous persons as Max Devrient, Johann Nestroy, Alexander Girardi, Isadora Duncan and many others performed on its stage at different times. Johann Strauss and Franz Lehár were at the conductor's stand several times. After the First World War, actors from the leading theaters in Vienna and Linz became regulars on the stage. In 1921, the first film show took place here.
Currently, the Lehar Theater is used for screening films, holding musical evenings, concerts, cabaret performances.
