The Alte Oper (Old Opera) was originally Frankfurt's Opera House. Heavily damaged during WWII, the building was reconstructed and opened as a concert hall in 1981.The Opernhaus as it was called was paid for by Frankfurt citizens and designed by the Berlin architect Richard Lucae. The panther quadriga on the Renaissance-style building recalls the famous Semper Opera House in Dresden.At the time the thirty-four meter tall building featured a large auditorium and a sumptuous staircase, known as the 'Imperial Staircase'. The auditorium could seat more than two thousand people. The Frankfurt Opernhaus was one of Germany's most important opera houses; many famous works premiered here including Carl Orff's famous Carmina Burana.