Hamburg reaches deal with logistics magnate to build new opera house
The northern German city of Hamburg plans to build a new opera house in the Hafencity district near the port with backing from the private Kühne Foundation, city officials announced on Friday.
Billionaire shipping and logistics magnate Klaus-Michael Kühne, 87, had previously announced in 2022 that he would provide up to €330 million ($343 million) for the new opera house in his home city.
The city is providing the land and will also take care of the infrastructure. The location will place the new opera house not far from Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie concert hall, a landmark new concert hall completed in 2016 after massive cost overruns.
In an interview with dpa, Hamburg's culture minister, Carsten Brosda described Kühne's offer as a "great gesture of patronage" that "we would also be happy to accept."
A press event featuring Hamburg city officials and leaders of Kühne's foundation is planned for midday on Friday, at which the contract for planning and building the new opera house will be presented.
Hamburg city leaders were initially sceptical about Kühne's proposal, but following closed-door talks local politicians have become more and more comfortable with the proposal and negotiations about the construction continued to progress behind closed doors.
A new use must now be found for the existing Hamburg State Opera House. The building, which dates back to 1955, is listed as historically significant but urgently needs to be renovated.
Brosda has previously that there are ideas for different possible uses for the building.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
David Ornstein Confirms Liverpool Striker Move is ‘Possible' After Recent Contact
Liverpool's Forward Focus: Nunez Exit Opens Door for Ekitike After Record-Breaking Wirtz Deal Liverpool's summer window has exploded into life, with business being conducted swiftly and decisively under Arne Slot. Florian Wirtz's arrival, confirmed late Tuesday, will not only obliterate the club's own transfer record but also set new benchmarks across English and German football. At a projected cost of over £115m, it surpasses the Moises Caicedo fee to Chelsea and signals a shift in how the Reds intend to compete. Advertisement As reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Wirtz's signing is not the end of Liverpool's spree. 'There is, meanwhile, a possible departure from Merseyside in the form of Darwin Nunez,' Ornstein noted, confirming contact from Al-Hilal for the Uruguayan. While the player is reportedly more inclined to remain in Europe, the financial pull from Saudi Arabia remains a factor. With Wirtz secured and Milos Kerkez close to completing a switch, Liverpool's net summer spend could soon exceed £195m. Yet, there is still desire for a new number nine – and Hugo Ekitike has emerged as the primary target. Ekitike Move Contingent on Outgoings Eintracht Frankfurt's €100m asking price for Ekitike has cooled Chelsea's interest, leaving Liverpool well-positioned – but only if two players depart. As per Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool must sell two of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa or Darwin Nunez before advancing negotiations for the French forward. Photo: IMAGO The strongest indication of an imminent exit centres on Nunez, who has struggled to consistently justify his £85m price tag since joining from Benfica. Al-Hilal's recent inquiry represents a serious push to bring the Uruguayan to the Saudi Pro League, having previously missed out on Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes and Victor Osimhen. Advertisement 'Liverpool rejected a proposal worth €70m from Al Nassr in January, and that sets a minimum bar if an exit is to materialise,' Ornstein wrote. That valuation remains the benchmark if the Reds are to part ways with the 24-year-old. Elliott and Gakpo Future Questions Wirtz's arrival also places questions around the futures of other attackers, particularly Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old made his stance clear: 'I don't really want to be wasting years of my career because it's a short career.' With Wolves and Newcastle reportedly interested, Elliott's departure would ease squad congestion and raise additional funds. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo has publicly rejected links to Bayern Munich, while Alisson Becker has reaffirmed his commitment to Anfield, though he has started exploring his next steps, according to reports. Photo: IMAGO Slot's Tactical Evolution Demands Precision Slot's system hinges on high-intensity pressing and fluid attacking movement – a style tailor-made for someone like Wirtz. The German's numbers last season were staggering: 45 appearances, 16 goals and 15 assists. It's a clear statement of intent from Liverpool and an evolution from the more chaotic attacking presence of Nunez. Advertisement Wirtz also represents the most expensive German footballer ever, Bayer Leverkusen's record sale, and the Bundesliga's highest transfer fee to date. It is a transformative deal both on and off the pitch. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis There's a strange inevitability to Darwin Nunez's likely departure. His raw energy and unpredictability created moments of brilliance, but not the consistency a title-winning side demands. With Arne Slot at the helm and Liverpool now reigning champions again, the standards have shifted. Every decision must be calculated, and emotion cannot drive the future. Florian Wirtz is the opposite type of forward – intelligent, composed and ruthlessly efficient. He feels like a player designed for Slot's tactics. His arrival is exciting, but fans will rightly wonder if Liverpool will regret letting Nunez go just as he might have reached his peak. Advertisement The Ekitike interest is intriguing. He's younger, mouldable and potentially a better long-term fit. But can he adapt quickly enough to the Premier League, and will he thrive in the pressure cooker of Anfield? That remains a gamble. Harvey Elliott's frustration is understandable, and while it would hurt to lose a homegrown star, this is a ruthless business now. Wirtz's signing shows Liverpool's hand – trophies are the priority. And if the money from Saudi helps complete that vision, fans may just get behind it, however conflicted they feel.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool Welcomes New Maestro in Mega Transfer Move
Liverpool Welcomes New Maestro in Mega Transfer Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Liverpool's transfer move for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz is complete, with the clubs agreeing to a package of nearly €150m. Advertisement Wirtz, 22, made his debut for Leverkusen at 17 years old and has scored 57 goals in 197 games. He agreed to personal terms about two weeks ago, making him set for his medical and contract signing as each side came to a full agreement. The deal is now the largest transfer in Liverpool history, smashing Virgil Van Dijk's fee of £75m. The young German star is a dynamic attacking midfielder, bringing fabulous creativity to Liverpool's attack. He has a unique ability to find space between the lines with exceptional accuracy when passing the ball. Wirt'z versatility is evident. He can play as a No. 10, false nine, or winger and his work rate is awesome. He's constantly pressing the opposition and looking to create opportunities with his dribbling skills, adding a new dimension to Arne Slot's squad. Advertisement The fee makes him just the 10th player ever to go for £100m or more. It makes him the largest transfer in Premier League history, eclipsing Chelsea's record signing of £115m in 2023 for Moises Caicedo. Wirtz became a crucial piece for Germany during last year's Euros when he became the youngest ever to score for the national team at 21 years and 42 days. The previous record was held by Kai Havertz. Before joining Leverkusen's senior team, Wirtz showcased and developed his skills at 1. FC Köln's youth academy from 2010 to 2020. His rapid rise saw him debut for Leverkusen as a teenager, where he also broke a previous record held by Havertz, becoming the youngest Bundesliga player ever. Advertisement Wirtz's arrival at Liverpool marks an exciting new era for the Reds' attacking aspirations given his international background and quick ascension. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump plans memorial to his mother on new Scottish golf course
Donald Trump is creating a memorial garden to his Scottish mother on the site of his new golf course in Aberdeenshire. The main feature of the garden will be a tribute carved in stone imported from Mary Anne Trump's birthplace, the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The announcement of Mr Trump's tribute to his mother came as Trump International Scotland unveiled the layout for a new course alongside the existing links course on his Menie estate. It is set to formally open this summer. Known officially as the Old and the New, the courses will combine to create what the company describes as ' the greatest 36 holes in golf' on the Aberdeenshire coast. The US president's mother was born Mary Anne MacLeod on Lewis, but emigrated to New York in 1930 when she was 18. She was one of tens of thousands of Scots who travelled to the US and Canada in the early years of the last century looking to escape economic hardship at home. She was hired as a domestic servant at the Carnegie Mansion on New York's Fifth Avenue and six years later married Frederick Trump, the successful property developer son of German migrants, and one of the most eligible men in New York. The US president was the fourth of the couple's five children. Mr Trump has spoken fondly of his mother, who died in 2000, aged 88. He said in an interview last year: 'The Scottish very great people, they're tough people. They're good fighters. [My mother] was funny, she had a great sense of humour.' Sarah Malone, the executive vice-president of Trump International, said: 'With the New course opening now fast approaching, we are delighted to share the final layout of this extraordinary links and the completion of The Greatest 36 Holes. 'It has been a phenomenal journey to create two truly exceptional world-class championship golf courses, across this magnificent stretch of North Sea coastline. 'The Trump family has a deep affection for Scotland, not only as the home of golf, but as the ancestral home of President Trump's beloved mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.' The plans for the second course were approved in 2019 alongside proposals for 550 new homes, shops, offices and restaurants. Planners received 2,921 valid representations from the public about the plan, 2,918 of which were objections and just 3 supported the Trump Organisation application. But despite the significant local opposition, Aberdeenshire council approved the £150 million plan. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
