Staatsoper Hannover and Schauspiel Hannover jointly form the Lower Saxony State Theatre Hannover GmbH, one of the largest multidisciplinary theatres in Germany. Each year, around 1300 events are hosted at three locations, ranging from opera to theatre, ballet, concerts, and youth theatre; these draw some 400,000 visitors. Staatsoper Hannover and Schauspiel Hannover collaborate with internationally known artists and present an innovative program that draws attention from far beyond the region. With its new ensemble of thirty, Schauspiel Hannover, led by Sonja Anders, has an extensive repertoire that includes both outstanding premieres and classic material and theatre in a modern narrative style. As of this season, the Staatsoper is led by Laura Berman. Diversity is key for the program of the ensemble, which has an international composition - the Staatsoper engages in dialogue with the city and the European opera scene. Besides modern interpretations of the standard repertoire, the Staatsoper yields world premieres and musical excursions between different genres and formats for younger audiences. The State Ballet is led by Marco Goecke, who makes art for the twenty-first century that bears his distinctive mark. In addition to his own productions, he collaborates with younger colleagues and invites well-known choreographers to come to Hannover. The Lower Saxony State Orchestra Hannover is both an operatic and concert orchestra. Besides accompanying opera, ballet and giving symphonic concerts, the orchestra also plays chamber music and children’s concerts at special locations outside the Staatsoper.