This was the former Hofballhaus at Michaelerplatz, which was renovated under Maria Theresia and opened in 1748. The proscenium opening was only 9.2 m. in width, but the stage was 15 m. in depth plus 8 m. of back stage (i.e., the stage was funnel-shaped). For acoustic reasons die action took place in the very front of the stage. Reverberation time (in the late 18th c.) was estimated as being between 1 and 1.3 seconds. The theater opened 14 May 1748 with a performance of Gluck's Semiramis.

In: Harer, Ingeborg (1995) "Musical Venues in Vienna, Seventeenth Century to the Present,"Performance Practice Review: Vol. 8: No. 1, Article 8.