Vienna State Opera
The opera house was the first major building on the Vienna Ringstrasse commissioned by the Viennese "city expansion fund". Work commenced on the house in 1861 and was completed in 1869, following plans drawn up by architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll. It was built in the Neo-Renaissance style by the renowned Czech architect and contractor Josef Hlávka.
Vienna State Ballet
Vienna State Ballet, "Wiener Staatsballett", is considered one of the world's top ballet companies. It was formerly named the Vienna State Opera Ballet as it is based at the Vienna State Opera building. In 2005 the ballets of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Volksoper were merged under the name "Das Ballett der Wiener Staatsoper und Volksoper" and Gyula Harangozo became the artistic director. The further name change, on September 1, 2010, was accompanied by a change in leadership. Manuel Legris, a former principal dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet, succeeded as the artistic director.