Cologne -
FC game against Hamburg, as the banner was blowing in the fan block: "You are artists and we do not!"
The protests are getting louder, a citizens' petition to restore the theater has started a protest car drives with the Carnival, the supporters list is getting longer. Their argument: A renovation of opera and drama would cost € 255 million, the cap of 295 million euros for the construction unterschreiten.Bis 15 March will be collected 30,000 signatures. Then the Council would decide on the admissibility of the citizens desire.
Renovation vs. New
Renovate!
Tearing!
In 2007 and 2008, the Council had made clear in policy decisions: The opera will be renovated, built the new theater. € 230 million should cost a maximum. Then revealed EXPRESS: The costs exploded to 364 million euros. The Council again discussed and decided on 17 December once again, the opera theater renovation and new building - this time for a maximum of € 295 million.
Photo: Alexander Schwaiger
She is the figurehead of the theater fans: director Karin Beier has been fighting the rising costs to maintain the Riphahn-building - and the ensemble is behind her: "The renovation is the better alternative!" Costs and time frames are much more manageable.
Also Kolumba Director Dr. Stefan Kraus is this: "Opera and theater are among the best post-war architecture of Cologne!"
Skeptical about the new building contract are the Greens: "We must closely examine the numbers to be sure that a reorganization would be no better and much cheaper," said Brigitta von Bülow.
Photo: Alexander Schwaiger
They are the enemy in his own camp: opera director Uwe Eric Laufenberg and financial chief Patrick Wasserbauer support the new development: "He would give the theater to new opportunities." Remedying as fears over a mountain, would take longer than a new building and the theater to leave the state in 1960.
Dr. Eva mayors, cultural spokeswoman for the SPD: "We expect an improvement of a new development of urban space similar to the master plan of Albert Speer, an optimization of the operations on the stages and time saving compared to a reorganization."
