Frankfurt’s Alte Oper, or Old Opera House, is located northwest of the city centre area. It is a grand building which dominates the square it fronts on to, with a magnificent fountain outside. The building was first opened in 1880 to much fanfare, and with Kaiser Wilhelm I claiming such a building could never be built in Berlin. Sadly it took significant bomb damage in World War 2 and was left as a shell for many years. However, restoration took place and almost 100 years after its original opening, it was re-opened in 1981 to similar fanfare. Regular operas, ballets and music concerts are held here, with listings shown all over the city.