Historie

The Beginning

It all began with a Schützenhaus — since 1832, standing proudly on Wintergartenstraße in Leipzig. Above the entrance, the inscription Laboris Industriis Civibus Requies—“For the recreation of the industrious citizen” — welcomed visitors. Fifty years later, this very motto would be echoed by the newly built Krystallpalast. A few years after its opening, the Schützenhaus was purchased by Karl Hoffmann, head waiter at the famed Hotel de Saxe, for the considerable sum of 55,000 thalers. Under his guidance, it quickly became a hub of lively entertainment, complete with a lavishly decorated festival hall.

By 1862, during the Second German Gymnastics Festival, 11,000 guests were wandering through the expansive grounds. The Lustgarten enchanted visitors with a grand fountain display and 10,600 gas lamps, illuminating the area and lending it an almost princely grandeur. In the winter of 1872, Saxon King Johann, accompanied by his wife and heir Albert, attended the grand court ball. Four years later, Emperor Wilhelm himself arrived with a full entourage for the imperial dinner. Adding to its illustrious history, Johann Strauss Jr., the “King of Waltz,” even performed here with his orchestra.

Yet all this splendor was tragically short-lived. At Pentecost in 1881, a somewhat overambitious fireworks display set the hall ablaze. In a single night, the Schützenhaus was reduced to ashes, leaving behind only memories of its former glory.

The Opening

But quickly, activists and investors rolled up their sleeves and put their money to work. In 1882, Krystallpalast opened — the city’s first, largest, and most famous variety theater. Constructed entirely of glass and iron, the new complex featured a theater hall at its center, accommodating 800 guests. With a winter garden, exhibition hall, restaurants, and social rooms spread over several floors, the entire venue could hold up to 15,000 visitors. Krystallpalast was considered the largest entertainment venue in Germany.

In 1887, a gigantic circus hall was inaugurated, seating 3,000 people. Named after the reigning King of Saxony, the Alberthalle soared to an impressive height of 36 meters. Meanwhile, Krystallpalast also housed Leipzig’s largest restaurant, serving over 1,000 guests every evening.

Developments and Setbacks

Leipzig’s entertainment house earned its fame across Germany, thanks to the dazzling artists who graced its variety hall, seating 1,800 guests. It was here that the brilliant humorist Otto Reutter earned his first wages, the masterful juggler Enrico Rastelli became practically a fixture, and Josephine Baker enchanted audiences — especially Leipzig’s male admirers — with her electrifying dance performances. Night after night, the hall buzzed with laughter, applause, and the thrill of live spectacle.

Yet all this glory came to a tragic end on the night of December 4, 1943. In a single bombing raid, Krystallpalast was turned into a field of rubble, leaving behind only memories of its former grandeur and the echoes of countless performances.

The Search for a Venue

After 1990, a turning point arrived, bringing developments that few could have imagined. This remarkable journey — full of turbulence, breathtaking highs, painful setbacks, and above all, a lasting happy ending — is inseparably linked to Katrin Troendle, Bert Callenbach, and Jens P. Riedel. In 1994, following several full-length shows under the banner of the then Varieté Troendle, the trio founded Leipzig’s Krystallpalast Varieté.

The search for a permanent home for their revived Krystallpalast began. With energetic backing from Sparkasse Leipzig, the dream gradually took shape in 1995: a new venue was planned at Magazingasse 4. A limited company was established, construction work commenced, and the project quickly gained momentum, fueled by passion and determination. The vision of bringing Leipzig’s legendary variety theater back to life was finally becoming real.

The Reopening and New Beginning

1997: On November 17, the new venue officially opened. Leipzig finally had a variety theater again — 54 years after its destruction, the Krystallpalast Varieté was resurrected. It became the first and, to date, the only variety theater in the new federal states. The debut was spectacular: the first international variety show ran for six weeks, selling out every single evening.

1997–1999: Following a series of further productions — each brilliantly cast, highly attended, and enthusiastically received — the relentless dual demands of artistic and administrative work began to take their toll on the passionate founders. A host of challenges, including financial ones, emerged, requiring pragmatic and creative solutions.

2000: The company structure was changed, and the venue at Magazingasse 4 came under the management of Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig GmbH & Co. KG. Katrin Troendle and Bert Callenbach focused on their artistic work — Troendle became known as the “Sachsendiva” — and continued to be both welcome guests and frequently booked performers at the theater. Following a change in management, Rüdiger Pusch took over as director of the Krystallpalast Varieté in 2001, steering the venue full steam toward consolidation.

2002: The Krystallpalast Varieté’s first dinner show, GANS GANZ ANDERS, was an overwhelming success. For four weeks on Leipzig’s Burgplatz, a historical performance tent hosted a top-class variety spectacle paired with an excellent four-course meal. The show continued to enjoy great success in the following years, becoming a highlight of the Christmas season.

The Aftermath of New Year’s Eve 2003/2004

Fire once again played an ignominious role in the history of the Krystallpalast: on New Year’s Eve, a technical defect caused the main hall to burn down completely. Fortunately, no one was harmed — but resuming performances was out of the question for the time being.

Once more, sleeves were rolled up. While successful productions continued in a smaller interim venue — where the art of improvisation was invisible to the audience — the reconstruction of the main hall turned adversity into opportunity. The rebuild became a thorough restoration: previous deficiencies were corrected, seating capacity increased, and technical capabilities optimized. By the autumn show Nachtschwärmer, the small variety stage at Magazingasse appeared more attractive than ever.

In addition, the Krystallpalast Varieté expanded into theater: actors from the MDR series In aller Freundschaft performed the play Gretchen 89ff. twice a week at the venue. The production was a genuine success and ran for nearly three seasons.

10th Anniversary and Expansion

The Krystallpalast Varieté celebrated its 10th anniversary and expanded. For December 2007, an additional venue for a dinner show in a mirror palace in Chemnitz was planned.

In Leipzig, the mirror palace was set to open its doors already in October: for four weeks, stars from the ARD series In aller Freundschaft provided entertainment with various programs. At the end of November, the sixth season of the dinner show GANS GANZ ANDERS began.

Leipzig Congress Hall, Mirror Palaces, and a Variety Theater

In January 2008, the team of Krystallpalast Varieté revived a long-dormant event venue in Leipzig. A historic mirror palace was installed in the Leipzig Congress Hall, and the venerable venue resumed operations. Stars from the music, comedy, and theater worlds came through its doors in rapid succession. The pre-Christmas dinner show GANS GANZ ANDERS also moved into the Congress Hall. After two and a half years, the hall was returned to the city of Leipzig for comprehensive renovation.

Nevertheless, “winter tenting” remained a tradition for the Krystallpalast Varieté. For three years, the dinner show GANS GANZ ANDERS was also performed successfully in Chemnitz on the grounds of the Industrial Museum during the pre-Christmas season, featuring the most popular productions from Leipzig. In 2009, this second production was discontinued to focus on new activities in Leipzig’s Neuseenland and the “return” of the Leipzig mirror palace to Burgplatz.

Meanwhile, the Krystallpalast Varieté in Leipzig was breaking audience records. Nonverbal, theatrical productions in particular thrilled guests. With the magic show ILLUSIA, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig set an all-time attendance record in 2010. For three months, a troupe of the world’s best magicians captivated audiences in Magazingasse. For the first time in ten years, all January performances were sold out to the very last seat.

VINETA on Störmthaler See

Engagement in the Neuseenland is taking shape. Since mid-June 2011, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig has been operating the floating art installation VINETA. Located on Störmthaler See, the VINETA, standing 15 meters high, is currently the tallest floating structure on a German lake and serves as a reminder of the places that had to make way for lignite mining. It has become a truly unique venue, providing the perfect setting for weddings, cultural events, and exclusive celebrations.

20 Years Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig

In November 2017, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig celebrated its 20th anniversary with the variety show LA FÊTE – Das Varieté feiert Geburtstag. The festivities lasted for four months.

On September 1, 2018, Peter Matzke took over as managing director of Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig GmbH & Co. KG from Rüdiger Pusch.

In the summer of 2018, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig was, for the first time, responsible for the artistic production of LEIPZIGER MARKT MUSIK in collaboration with the Leipzig Trade Fair.

15 Years GANS GANZ ANDERS

Since 2002, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig has been presenting the extravagant Christmas dinner show GANS GANZ ANDERS in the historic Spiegelpalast in downtown Leipzig.

In 2016, the extravagant dinner show GANS GANZ ANDERS celebrated its 15th anniversary. In the world’s largest Spiegelpalast, “Queen of Flanders”, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig staged a grand anniversary gala featuring top acts from international acrobatics, live music, and dance. On two floors of the mirrored tent, being seen in Europe for the first time, guests were served an exclusive four-course menu.

Alles muss ich sehen (“I Must See Everything”)

As part of its 25th anniversary, the Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig, in collaboration with DAKE, presented a special variety show in Gera.

“ALLES MUSS ICH SEHEN” (“I Must See Everything”) was one of the guiding principles of painter Otto Dix, inspiring him to expose himself to every experience life had to offer in all its diversity. This motto is honored in Gera through a cultural event of the same name, dedicated to the city’s notable son.

The variety show is a dynamic performance combining different art forms at the intersection of theater, variety, and contemporary circus. It takes the audience on a time-travel journey from the 2020s back to the 1920s — the heyday of variety theater and a significant creative period in Dix’s life. In the historic setting of Gera-Untermhaus — right next to the artist’s birthplace — guests experience a stylish mirrored tent that offers a unique engagement with Dix’s internationally celebrated works.

25 Years Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig

In 2022, the Leipzig Varieté celebrated its 25th anniversary. This privately operated variety theater with contemporary gastronomy is the only year-round variety theater in eastern Germany. In multi-month in-house productions, it presents a modern concept variety show with a distinctive signature style.

For each production, the ensembles are assembled specifically from top-tier, often award-winning, artists, musicians, dancers, and contemporary comedians.