Frankfurt, 19th January 2012 . This year, fans of both the fine and performing arts have a variety of cultural highlights to look forward to. It all starts on 25th February, with the Städel Museum finally opening its munch-anticipated underground extension. Edvard Munch, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons are all honoured with special exhibitions, while the Mousonturm presents a new director. And last but certainly not least, Oper Frankfurt finds itself once again at the top of Germany’s opera houses.
The completion of the Städel’s underground extension is one of the most important events in the art institute’s long and celebrated history, coming at a time when many other riverside museums are also improving their offer spectrum. The groundbreaking architecture of the new hall, the unparalleled efforts of Frankfurt’s citizenry, the museum’s international renown and the technical aspects of the annexe have all played a role in making the grand opening a highly significant occasion.
In February 2008, the Städel’s decision-makers accepted the proposal of the Frankfurt architect’s office of schneider+schumacher. The new exhibition hall beneath the museum gardens features much more than spectacular architectural design and a unique lighting concept. It also promises to amaze visitors with a comprehensively renewed collection of contemporary art, one that is sure to match in splendour its brand-new home. The additional 3,000 square metres will provide ample space for the collection’s many masterpieces.
The opening of the new Städel extension is just one of many cultural highlights taking place in Frankfurt in 2012. From 09th February to 13th May, Schirn Kunsthalle will be showing its visitors the more contemporary side of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch with an exhibition entitled “The Modern View”. Many of the show’s 140 works will be on display in Germany for the very first time.
From 11th February to 13th May, the Museum of Modern Art will be honouring the most celebrated icon of pop art, Andy Warhol. The American is known to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, his masterpieces continuing to influence the art world to this day. The exhibition, entitled “Warhol: Headlines”, brings together for the first time all those works of the Pittsburgh native dealing with the subject of mass media.
The significance of mass media and consumption will also be the focus of an exhibition highlighting the works of Jeff Koons, on show at two separate locations from 21st June to 23rd September. Koons’s sculptures will be meeting up with their historical counterparts at the Liebieghaus Sculpture Museum. Schirn Kunsthalle, meanwhile, will be concentrating its efforts on the more well known painted works of the artist.
Frankfurt is not just about fine arts, however. The performing arts, featuring variety, dance, music and opera, are also firmly entrenched in the cultural life of the Main metropolis. Taking over the role of director at the Mousonturm is Niels Ewerbeck. His first official order – the optimisation of the foyer and restaurant area – is currently being carried out. On 06th September, the reopening of this renowned Frankfurt institution will be celebrated with four days of performances, installations and concerts, taking place all over the city.
Finally, Oper Frankfurt has once again been lauded by the critics as one of Germany’s leading performing arts venues. In 2011, the German magazine “Opernwelt” voted the playhouse Germany’s best opera for the third year running, an honour not yet bestowed on any other opera in all of Germany.
