The Austrian State Opera and Theater houses

Issued by Austria in 2005 the country of Austria celebrated the 50th Anniversaries of the reopening of their national opera and theater houses. 

The Opera House

Construction on the state opera house commenced in 1861 based on a design by August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll.  Built by the renowned architect and builder Josef Hlavka, the opera house was finally finished in 1869.  The opera house is pictured in the stamp on the right in the souvenir sheet above.  It was extensively damaged during World War II and completion of the renovations and reconstruction was finished in 1955.  

The National Theater

Featured on the left stamp in the above souvenir sheet is the Austrian National Theater.  One of the most important German language theaters in the world, it opened in 1888 and was designed by Gottfried Semper and Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer.  As with the opera house, it was extensively damaged during World War II.

The Battle of Aspern-Essling

On June 4, 2009 Austria issued a stamp commemorating the battle of Aspern-Essiling.  The Stamp is based on a painting of Johann Peter Kraft and was completed circa 1809.

June 4, 2009 - Archduke Charles of Austria During the Battle of Aspern-Essling by Johann Peter Krafft.

The Battle
In the Battle, the Austrians under Archduke Charles of Austria drove back Napoleon as he and his forces attempted to cross the Danube near Vienna.  This was the first time that Napoleon had been personally defeated in over 10 years.

Casualties were high on both sides with Napoleon losing one of his best commanders and friends, Marshal Jean Lannes, who was wounded by an Austrian cannon ball.