The new year marks the second year of construction work on the Wagner House restoration project. Under the leadership of the geotechnical engineering company “Keller,” work continues on strengthening the building’s foundations. This time, however, the Richard Wagner Society of Riga (RWSR) wishes to offer an insight into the history and restoration vision of the theatre hall.

Many are surprised to learn that beneath the space commonly known as the Wagner or Musse Hall, there was once an entire theatre with a parterre and two balconies. It was here that the young composer Richard Wagner worked between 1837 and 1839. After the building’s restoration, the public will have access not only to the familiar chamber music hall but also to the newly restored opera theatre hall for 500 spectators—the Wagner Theatre. The project’s architect, Zaiga Gaile, provides further details on the history and restoration of this hall:

“Before the Christmas holidays, we completed the interior design project for the theatre’s main space—the Grand Hall. A brief historical overview: The Riga City Theatre Hall was built in 1782. The original project by architect Christoph Haberland has not survived; only fragmented and contradictory descriptions exist. We have not lost hope of finding the original project in the archives of St. Petersburg, as the theatre’s builder, Baron Otto Hermann von Vietinghoff-Scheel, spent his final years in Imperial Russia in a high-ranking position comparable to today’s Minister of Health. The Baron also built a grand residence there and passed away in 1792. Given the current wartime situation, Russia’s extensive archives are understandably inaccessible.

A long-standing legend claimed that the theatre hall was built within an old warehouse. However, upon removing layers of plaster from the walls, we uncovered brickwork with rhythmically spaced arched window openings on both side facades of the hall. Remarkably, one original bricked-up window was found in good condition, which will be showcased in the restored building. If this was originally a warehouse, why would it have so many windows? The project’s researcher, architect Ilmārs Dirveiks, proposes the hypothesis that there was never a warehouse—the original hall was newly built with illuminated side galleries leading to the theatre’s three levels, much like the Latvian National Opera. If this was the case, the hall was narrow and cramped, making it difficult to believe historical accounts that it could accommodate 500 spectators. Many sources, however, describe poor conditions—lack of air, unpleasant odors, and cold temperatures on stage, which frequently caused singers to catch colds. Interestingly, large arched openings at the back of the stage suggest that scenery was delivered and artists entered from the rear, likely from an adjacent building.

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The hall was rebuilt in 1837, shortly before Richard Wagner was invited to work as a conductor. A program from this period with a schematic plan of the hall has survived, showing a parterre with boxes and two balconies. The process of uncovering the walls has clearly revealed the imprints of the balcony floors. It is worth noting that two additional floors were inserted into the hall at the end of the 19th century, when the theatre ceased to exist. The theatre troupe moved to the Latvian National Opera, and the building came under the management of the “Musse” Society, which continued to organize concerts, balls, and other cultural events. After World War II, the Fundamental Library of the Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences (now the Academic Library of the University of Latvia) moved into the building, transforming the theatre’s three levels into a book repository. It is a striking image—an opera hall filled with books! Before the war, the City Library was housed in the Town Hall. When it burned down, Jānis Straubergs found the vacant Wagner House nearby. He salvaged as many books as possible, transporting them by cart and wheelbarrow. Women carried out this task, as men were at war. The ruins of the Town Hall were guarded and off-limits, but Straubergs somehow secretly arranged access. The entire collection of rare books currently housed in the Academic Library, including bound volumes of the first Riga theatre’s posters, originates from these rescued books. The Musse Hall (on the third floor) initially served as a large reading room but was later converted into a conference hall by the communists, with a white plaster bust of Lenin at one end and Stalin at the other. The Fundamental Library remained for 40 years until the Wagner House was restored as a concert hall for chamber music performances.

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The concept for the restored opera theatre hall aims to recreate the hall’s original appearance as closely as possible within existing parameters, featuring a parterre, boxes, and two balconies. Historical documents describe chairs upholstered in green fabric in the parterre and red fabric in the balconies, with the box walls covered in matching fabric. The hall aspires toward light, with a vast illusory ceiling opening to the sky—something unseen in any other theatre worldwide, where large crystal chandeliers typically hang above the audience. The hall will feature wooden flooring and steps, paneling on the walls, columns, and balcony railings. The walls will be upholstered with red ornamental fabric, based on wallpaper fragments discovered in the Musse (Wagner) Hall.”

Restoring the Wagner House will bring multiple significant benefits, not only increasing the diversity and accessibility of cultural events for Latvian residents but also strengthening Riga’s and Latvia’s reputation as a cultural center and its connection to Richard Wagner, who served as Kapellmeister in this house from 1837 to 1839. The project plans not only to restore the building and theatre hall but also to establish masterclasses and a Richard Wagner Museum. The house will realize Wagner’s vision of “GesamtkunstWerk21” as an incubator for all art forms, becoming an international hub for emerging artists in the 21st century.

The main construction contractor for the project is the consortium “SBSC and 3A,” with SIA “Sarma un Norde Arhitekti” as the lead designer. Engineering and construction supervision are carried out by SIA “Būves un Būvsistēmas.” The architectural and interior design is handled by “Zaiga Gaile’s Bureau.” Experts from other countries have also been involved—for instance, theatre technology solutions are being developed by “Theater Advies” from the Netherlands, while theatre acoustics consultancy is provided by specialists from “Nagata Acoustics” under the leadership of Yasuhisa Toyota, who has contributed to the design of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Philharmonie de Paris, among other notable projects.

The project “Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Wagner House, 4 Richard Wagner Street, Riga, LV-1050, by Restoring and Renovating the Riga Wagner House” is supported by the Emissions Trading System, the German Federal Foreign Office, the German Embassy in Riga, the Riga City Council, the Messerschmitt Foundation, and SCHWENK.

After extensive preparatory work, the next critical phase in the restoration of Wagner Theatre in Riga has begun: the reinforcement of the building’s foundations.

In July of this year, the Riga Richard Wagner Society (RRWS) reported that during plaster removal, it was discovered that the building’s structural condition was worse than initially anticipated. A series of solutions were developed and implemented to address the most critical issues and strengthen the structure prior to foundation reinforcement. In mid-October, the Polish company KELLER began work at the Wagner Theatre construction site, installing the first foundation-strengthening piles at a depth of 16 meters.

The foundation reinforcement is being carried out using a deep soil stabilization method, where the soil is mixed with a cement slurry. This is the most gentle method for foundation reinforcement, as it avoids vibrations and minimizes the risk of soil settlement. However, the process is time-consuming and complex due to the historic architecture and muddy soil near the Rīdzene River’s bed. The work is planned in two stages: first, reinforcing the foundations in the section of the building closer to Wagner Street, and then casting a new load-bearing shell for the opera hall’s volume. After this, the foundations of the opera hall section can also be reinforced.

The renovation of Wagner Theatre promises significant benefits, not only enhancing the variety and accessibility of cultural events for the people of Latvia, but also strengthening Riga and Latvia’s reputation as a cultural hub with ties to Richard Wagner, who served as Kapellmeister here from 1837 to 1839. The project will not only restore the building and theatre hall but will also establish masterclasses and a Richard Wagner museum. Wagner Theatre will embody Wagner’s vision of “GesamtkunstWerk21” – an incubator for all art forms, set to become an international center for young artists that meets the needs of the 21st century.

The main contractor for the project is “SBSC un 3A,” with principal design led by “Sarma un Norde Arhitekti”, while engineering and construction supervision are handled by “Būves un Būvsistēmas”. “Zaigas Gailes birojs” has been engaged as a subcontractor for architectural and interior design. International experts have also been brought on board: Theater Advies from the Netherlands is developing theatre technology solutions, while Nagata Acoustics, led by Yasuhisa Toyota, is consulting on theatre acoustics. Toyota’s firm has contributed to the design of renowned venues like the Elbphilharmonie and the Philharmonie de Paris.

The project, “Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Riga Wagner Theatre,” located at 4 Riharda Wagner Street, Riga, LV-1050, is supported by the Emission Trading Instrument, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Embassy in Riga, Riga City Council, building materials and cement manufacturer SCHWENK, as well as Richard Wagner Societies in Germany and private donations.

It will soon be one year since the building at 4 Vāgnera Street was handed over to the builders. Work is still ongoing on the details of the project, as well as extensive preparations for the next stage – strengthening the foundations. Extensive dismantling of structures and components has been taking place at Wagner’s House over the last few months. As architect Zaiga Gaile, the author of the architectural vision for the project, says: “We have many surprises, both positive and problematic.”

The plaster on the walls of the former theatre hall has been removed, revealing a sad picture: the walls are badly damaged, more than previously anticipated. The fact that the theatre was built 250 years ago on the site of a former warehouse is confirmed: all the brickwork consists of bricked-up arches and openings, dotted with cracks of various sizes. Layers of time overlap and sometimes there are serious concerns about the load-bearing capacity of the walls. The designers have to seriously study and rework the solutions of the pre-designed construction project. The project involves an Architectural Investigation Group (Arhitektoniskā Izpētes grupa), which carefully documents the wall outcrops and details found during dismantling.

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Among the positive surprises is the unusually rich collection of finishing details and documents found during the dismantling process, some of which will be exhibited in the future Wagner Museum. Most of the details were uncovered after the slabs had been exposed and the doors dismantled. Zaiga Gaile explains more about the finds. “In Musses Hall, a built-in mirror on the back wall was removed to reveal red wallpaper with imitation fabric underneath. These are typical of the early 19th century. A second wallpaper exposure was found in the entrance corridor in front of the Musse Hall: the Polish restorers had apparently been tasked with improving the soundproofing of the hall during renovations in 1988 and had installed a double wall several metres long. This is a unique find where the wallpaper has survived over a large area without damage. In the tea salon on the third floor, green flowered wallpaper was under the triangular decorative door portal. We also found red fabric wallpaper under the door and window frames on the same floor of the Musse Society.”

The architects have created a map showing the locations of the documents on the building plan. The main locations are the third floor and the attic, but old newspapers and magazines are also found in unexpected and unusual underground hiding places. “For example, a well-preserved fashion magazine from the early 20th century with drawn models and even a page with fabric patterns. We are already fantasising about using them as costume models for the theatre opening,” says Zaiga Gaile. On 7 January 1912, the Musse Society celebrated its 125th anniversary, and the occasion was marked with an ornately bound catalogue. It carefully lists the members of the Society, most of whom are German nobility and civic elite. The list of honorary members includes the Mayor of Riga, Georg Armitstedt, and the Governor of the tsarist government and his entourage. A programme from the Society’s 100th anniversary ceremony, including a lunch menu and a concert, was found during the dismantling. . The statutes of the Society in various editions and the catalogue of library books have been preserved. “It is quite clear from the list of members that the influential elite of the Latvian German nobility met in the Muse Society, which was housed in the Wagner House and founded as early as 1787,” says Zaiga Gaile. “We have approached the historian Inta Dišlere, who has agreed to do research on the Society and its members. Noblemen flocked to the meetings from their estates – concerts and balls, lunches and cigars; old playing cards and tobacco wrappers were also found.”

The construction works are planned to last for 3 years and the Riga Wagner Theatre will open in autumn 2027. The renovation of the Wagner House will bring a number of significant benefits, not only enhancing the diversity and accessibility of cultural events for the people of Latvia, but also strengthening the image of Riga and Latvia as a cultural centre and the link with Richard Wagner, who was Kapellmeister at the House for two years (1837-1839). The project will not only renovate the building and the theatre hall, but will also create masterclasses and a Richard Wagner museum. The house will realise Wagner’s vision of “GesamtkunstWerk21” – an incubator for all art forms that will become an international centre for young artists worthy of the 21st century.

The main contractor of the project is the association of persons “SBSC un 3A” with the main designer “Sarma un Norde Arhitekti” Ltd, while the duties of the engineer and construction supervision are performed by “Būves un Būvsistēmas” Ltd. Zaiga Gailes birojs” has been hired as a subcontractor for the architectural and interior design. Experts from other countries have also been brought in – for example, theatre technology solutions are being developed by Theater Advies from the Netherlands, while Nagata Acoustics, headed by Yasuhisa Toyota, are acting as consultants on theatre acoustics, having been involved in the design of the Elba Philharmonic and Paris Philharmonic, as well as many other notable projects.

The project “Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the Riga Wagner House”, 4 Riharda Wagner Street, Riga, LV-1050, by renovating and restoring the Riga Wagner House” is supported by the Emission Trading Instrument, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Embassy in Riga, Riga City Council, as well as the building materials and cement manufacturer SCHWENK.

The Riga Richard Wagner Society (RRWS) traditionally invites all citizens and guests of Riga to attend the annual celebration of Richard Wagner’s birthday.

On 22 May at 18:30, a special message from Richard Wagner himself will be played from the stage in front of the theatre building at 4 Vāgnera Street, followed by a short piano concerto by pianist Reinis Zariņš with selected works by Wagner.

The event will be filmed and photographed.

See you there!

At the close of last year, the Riga Richard Wagner Society (RRWS) announced the receipt of a building permit for the redevelopment of the Wagner Theatre. With the technical design finalized, the dismantling phase has successfully concluded. Interior detailing is progressing, and the next stage—the commencement of piling works—is imminent.

The dismantling encompassed a wide array of tasks — chandeliers, historic stoves, parquet flooring, windows, doors, and other interior components were carefully removed for refurbishment and subsequent reinstallation in the renovated theatre building. Additionally, partition walls were demolished, and the existing heat network was disassembled, with a temporary system installed to ensure uninterrupted heating for neighboring buildings during the renovation.

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Detailing and interior design are an essential part of the project. A 1:30 scale model of the theatre is currently under construction and will be showcased on the third floor, allowing visitors to grasp the intricacies of the structure. Architect Zaiga Gaile elaborated, stating, “The model will be akin to a real doll’s house, featuring original materials like mosaic parquet floors, wooden doors, windows, panels, wallpapered walls, furniture, and even chandeliers.” Notably, a centerpiece of this exhibit will be a meticulously crafted model of the ship “Thetis” from Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman, suspended within the glass courtyard above the audience. The ship, discovered in archival records as the vessel Wagner, his wife Minna, and their dog Robert fled on to escape Latvian creditors, will be presented in dramatic detail. Crafted by master modeler Aleksandrs Šarga, the ship will appear as a storm-damaged wreck, complete with torn sails, echoing the tale of The Flying Dutchman. This immersive display, towering at three and a half meters, will captivate visitors as they traverse interconnected rooms of the building’s third floor, studying the ship’s intricate rigging and deck.

Meanwhile, the Wagner Theatre Library is also taking shape, set to dominate the central space along Wagner Street, featuring floor-to-ceiling bookshelves spanning the auditorium’s five-meter-high walls.

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Looking ahead, the next phase will focus on strengthening the building’s foundations and constructing the basement. The construction timeline spans three years, with the grand reopening of the Riga Wagner Theatre slated for autumn 2027.

The restoration of the Wagner Theatre will bring a number of significant benefits, which will not only contribute to the diversity and accessibility of cultural events for the people of Latvia, but will also strengthen the image of Riga and Latvia as a cultural centre and the link with Richard Wagner, who was Kapellmeister there for two years (1837-1839). The project will not only renovate the building and the theatre hall, but will also create masterclasses and a Richard Wagner museum. The house will realise Wagner’s vision of “GesamtkunstWerk21″ – an incubator for all art forms that will become an international centre for young artists worthy of the 21st century.

The main contractor for the project is SBSC un 3A, with Sarma un Norde Arhitekti as the main designer, and Būves un Būvsistēmas as the engineer and construction supervisor. Zaiga Gailes birojs” has been hired as a subcontractor for the architectural and interior design. Experts from other countries have also been brought in – for example, theatre technology solutions are being developed by Theater Advies from the Netherlands, while Nagata Acoustics, headed by Yasuhisa Toyota, are acting as consultants on theatre acoustics, having been involved in the design of the Elba Philharmonic and Paris Philharmonic, as well as many other notable projects.

The project “Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the Riga Wagner House”, 4 Riharda Wagner Street, Riga, LV-1050, by renovating and restoring the Riga Wagner House” is supported by the Emissions Trading Instrument, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Embassy in Riga and the Riga City Council.

The end of the year continues to bring good news for the Riga Richard Wagner Society – we have received a donation of €10 000 from the Richard Wagner Society Frankfurt a. M. (Richard Wagner Verband Frankfurt a. M.).

This is the second time that the Wagner Society Frankfurt has supported the renovation project of the Richard Wagner Theatre in Riga – already at the end of 2021 we received a generous donation, which has contributed significantly to the activities of the Society and the development of the project up to the present moment. We are delighted that representatives of the Frankfurt Wagner Society had the opportunity to witness the laying of the cornerstone of the Wagner Theatre in May this year and to see the theatre that will be reborn thanks in part to their support.

Dirk Jenders, Chairman of the Frankfurt Richard Wagner Society:

The second fundraising campaign organised by the RWV Frankfurt to support the Renaissance of the Richard Wagner Theatre was also a great success. Thanks to the response of the members, the first donation from 2021 was repeated and a few days ago another 10,000 euros were transferred to the Riga Richard Wagner Society.

This strengthening of the cultural bridge between Frankfurt and the Latvian capital is not only an expression of the connection between Wagner fans, but also of solidarity in these difficult times.

After years of preparation, including obtaining expert opinions, launching tenders, analysing cost estimates and raising funds, the project is now undergoing excavation, drilling, demolition and rebuilding of walls and ceilings. So work has started on the theatre, and this marks a very exciting new phase. Every day we are witnessing a vision become reality.

Read the original publication on the Frankfurt Richard Wagner Society website here.

The Renaissance of the Wagner Theatre is also supported by the International Association of Wagner Societies as well as the Wagner Societies in Berlin, Coburg, Freiburg and Minden.

The full list of supporters can be found here: https://vagneriga.lv/sponsors/

On 24 November, the Riga Richard Wagner Society (RRWS) received confirmation from the Riga City Municipality Urban Development Department – the construction project for the Wagner Theatre building has been approved and a building permit has been received.

Earlier this year, RRVB announced that work had started on the technical design of the Wagner Theatre, and now, at the end of November, the Riga City Council’s Urban Development Department has approved the building permit.

The building has already been handed over to the main builder, SBSC – demolition works are currently underway, the existing heating system is being dismantled, partition walls are being removed, windows, doors and other interior elements are being gently dismantled and will be handed over for restoration. The main construction work, which will start with the strengthening of the foundations, will start in January 2024. The detailed design of the project – planning the interior and restoration work – will continue until February. It is significant that the City Council has taken a positive decision to put the road elements into free use, which is an important contribution to the project, as nearby streets will be used and partly occupied during the construction works.

The restoration of the Wagner Theatre will bring a number of important benefits, not only in terms of the diversity and accessibility of cultural events for the people of Latvia, but also in terms of strengthening the image of Riga and Latvia as a cultural centre and the link with Richard Wagner, who was Kapellmeister at the House for two years (1837-1839). The project will not only renovate the building and the theatre hall, but will also create masterclasses and a Richard Wagner museum. The house will realise Wagner’s vision of “GesamtkunstWerk21″ – an incubator for all art forms that will become an international centre for young artists worthy of the 21st century.

Last year, the main contractor, SBSC, was selected through a public tender process, with Sarma un Norde Arhitekti as the main designer, and Būves un Būvsistēmas SIA as the engineer and construction supervisor. Zaiga Gailes birojs” has been hired as a subcontractor for the architectural and interior design. Experts from other countries have also been brought in – for example, theatre technology solutions are being developed by Theater Advies from the Netherlands, while Nagata Acoustics, headed by Yasuhisa Toyota, are acting as consultants on theatre acoustics, having been involved in the design of the Elba Philharmonic and Paris Philharmonic, as well as many other notable projects.

The project “Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the Riga Wagner House”, 4 Riharda Wagner Street, Riga, LV-1050, by renovating and restoring the Riga Wagner House” is supported by the Emissions Trading Instrument, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Embassy in Riga and the Riga City Council.

On 18 October, the Riga City Council adopted a positive decision on the transfer of road elements for gratuitous use for the implementation of the renovation project of the Richard Wagner Theatre in Riga, at 4 Riharda Vāgnera Street.

The revival of the Wagner Theatre requires a series of large-scale works, and this would of course not be possible without the development of the construction site and the use of nearby streets during the construction works. This usually also means a significant part of the funding going directly to road occupation.

This is an important contribution to the project, and we very much appreciate the city’s support in this journey – in just a few years’ time, the Wagner Theatre will bring together music and art lovers and will become an integral part of Riga’s and Latvia’s culture.

The project “Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the “Riga Wagner House”, 4 Riharda Wagner Street, Riga, LV-1050, by renovating and restoring the Riga Wagner House” is supported by the Emission Trading Instrument, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Embassy in Riga and Riga City Council.