One of the world’s most sought-after opera directors, Stefan Herheim, has begun an intense rehearsal period at the MusikTheater an der Wien, where he will shed new light on Johann Strauss II’s classic operetta “Die Fledermaus”. We get unique access to the process behind one of his most ambitious and controversial interpretations, set in Nazi-occupied Vienna in 1938. With the cameras up close, artistic breakthroughs, creative triumphs and moments of deep doubt are revealed. The ensemble is challenged, and expectations are sky-high. The question is as simple as it is dramatic: Will Herheim’s new “Fledermaus” end up as a success… or a scandal?
Salzburg Festival 2022: Il trittico
Il trittico was premiered in New York on 14 December 1918, composed while the First World War was still raging in Europe. At first glance, the three one-act operas Gianni Schicchi, Il tabarro and Suor Angelica seem to have no connection with each other; their common denominator is solely the entanglement of man in a fateful destiny that only exceptionally, for a moment, seems to promise a happy outcome to the “adventure of life” — a set of themes that in its complexity seems to be in such good hands with few directors as with Christof Loy. The main female roles in the three opera acts are performed by the Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, a very rare and tremendous feat, but once again connects the works to each other. “Grigorian is […] a wonderful, intense performer: a gracefully graceful Donna fragile as Lauretta, a feverishly longing for love while tormented by guilt Giorgetta, and a desperately lost Angelica rebelling with defiance.” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
High Performance Sports – Singing Opera
What do Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Piotr Beczala and Daniel Behle have in common? Besides being internationally acclaimed singers, they’re all “vocal athletes” who keep their voices in shape. In this “rewarding documentary” (Opernglas), filmmakers Barbara and Wolfgang Wunderlich team up with Thomas Voigt to examine the physical and psychological hurdles that constantly face professional singers. Next to theoretical matters, the program offers a generous selection of musical excerpts that illustrate the topic at hand and shed light into the complex interplay of every singer’s body and mind.
Portrait Fritz Wunderlich – Life and Legend
“Fritz Wunderlich is one of those singers whom I’ve never felt were historical. In his recordings he sounds so much of the present, that it’s as though he were still among us.” These comments by Rolando Villazón make it clear that the book of Fritz Wunderlich’s life is by no means closed. Forty years after his tragic death, he is a far more potent presence through his recordings than he was during his lifetime. He continues to reach his public, whether they be fans who know his recordings inside-out or people hearing his voice for the first time.
A Quiet Place
In 1986 Bernstein conducted a refined version of his own opera A Quiet Place in Vienna. It contains singable late romantic melodies as well as Broadway musical sounds, syncopated jazz rhythms and well-tempered modernity and, of course, a masterful instrumentation. Estranged family members recall the history of their relationships with each other and with their dead mother. The next morning, after breakfast and games in the garden – the “quiet place” –, they find that their hostility has given way to reconciliation.
Salzburg Festival 2025: Oedipus Rex
Under Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Wiener Philharmoniker perform Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex with explosive power. The stellar cast includes Allan Clayton, Marina Viotti, Michael Volle and Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz, who “performs this speaking role with subtle restraint” (BR Klassik). The concert also features Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique “in a performance where everything is just right” (Der Standard). PROGRAM Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex; Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
Vienna Prater Picnic Concert 2025
The Wiener Symphoniker once again welcomed the summer with their yearly open-air concert in the heart of Vienna. For the fourth time, the Kaiserwiese – set against the iconic Giant Ferris Wheel – becomes the backdrop of a shared musical experience connecting generations, styles and stories. With a cross-genre programme combining operetta, musical, jazz and pop, the orchestra traces a lively Viennese tradition that has been bringing people together since the 19th century. Bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff brought Frank Sinatra’s repertoire to life with his unmistakable voice, joined by soprano Alina Wunderlin, who moved effortlessly between classical music, operetta and jazz. Double bassist and composer Georg Breinschmid and his trio offered a jazz-inflected tribute to Johann Strauss, while singer-songwriter Lemo added a contemporary touch.
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2025
The Midsummer Night’s Gala heralds the start of the summer festival season every year, captivating the audience and celebrating the summer against the idyllic backdrop of the extensive castle grounds. On the Wolkenturm stage, chief conductor Fabien Gabel joins star pianist and festival director Rudolf Buchbinder for their first collaboration at Grafenegg. Buchbinder, intimately familiar with the venue, performs a movement from Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor. South African mezzo-soprano Siphokazi Molteno makes her festival debut, alongside American tenor Michael Spyres, recently named Best International Opera Singer at the Oper! Awards. The programme offers a vibrant mix of opera arias, overtures, and orchestral works, featuring Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Puccini’s Turandot, and a spotlight on French and Spanish music.
Vienna Prater Picnic Concert 2024
The Vienna Prater Picnic offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a classical concert for free on a warm summer evening. With this open-air concert, the Wiener Symphoniker invite their audience to pack their picnic baskets and relax on the green Kaiserwiese of the Vienna Prater in front of the famous ferris wheel. This edition of the Picnic features Austrian singer Julian le Play as well as soprano Annette Dasch and baritone Georg Nigl. At the podium of the Wiener Symphoniker, Dirk Kaftan entertains with a crowd-pleasing programme featuring Johann Strauss II, Franz Lehár, Arturo Márquez and more.
Salzburg Festival 2024: Maxime Pascal conducts Nono and Dallapiccola
The Salzburg Festival features an extraordinary concert of Nono’s *Il canto sospeso*, which leaves the audience “speechless.” The composition, based on farewell letters from political prisoners, narrates actor Tobias Moretti amidst challenging music executed flawlessly by Maxime Pascal, the RSO, and the Bayerischer Rundfunkchor. The second half showcases Dallapiccola’s *Il prigionero*, with baritone Georg Nigl delivering a powerful performance. The concert concludes with the audience giving both reverent applause and standing ovations. “The burning humanity of Nono’s vision seemed to possess all who listened (and played)”(Seen and Heard)