Berlin's opulent state opera was commissioned as the royal opera house by Frederick the Great and designed by his friend and master architect Georg Wenzelslaus von Knobelsdorff. It has graced Bebelplatz since 1742 and risen from the ashes three times. Again in need of an overhaul, the famous song palace will remain closed until at least 2015. Since 1992 Argentine-Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim has swung the lead baton as music director.
