Enlarge image The Cologne Opera is in a temporary tent during renovations. (© picture alliance / JOKER) Fifty opera critics across Germany have voted the Cologne Opera house as the best opera house of 2012. The experts from the magazine Opernwelt (Opera World) praised the Cologne opera ensemble’s artistic achievement, which the performers and directors delivered in 2012, despite difficult operating conditions. The Cologne opera house is currently undergoing renovations, so performances have temporarily moved to a tent construction at Cologne’s main train station.

The Stuttgart Opera was awarded the prize for the performance of the year for Bellini’s La sonnambula, while its directors Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito also received a critics’ prize. The best female singer of the year was declared to be Nina Stemme, originally from Sweden but who started her career in the chorus in Köln. The award for best conductor was given to Christian Thielemann, principal conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden since this summer. The Bavarian State Orchestra was named the best orchestra.