September 2010
Lehár, Straus & Stolz
Premiere
The Volksoper is celebrating 410 years of operetta history - the 140th birthdays of both Oscar Straus and Franz Lehár, and the 130th birthday of Robert Stolz. All three personalities left their own mark on the "silver operetta" era, and indeed went beyond the operetta form: Straus as a film composer, Lehár as the creator of important works in true operatic style, and Robert Stolz as perhaps the last master of the German "Lied". On this occasion, the Volksoper presents immortal classics from rarely produced works of the three titans of light music.
Hello, Dolly!
Premiere from Jerry Herman
Dolly Gallagher Levi from Yonkers is half way between the "Merry Widow" and a "Barber"-type factotum. As a marriage broker, she has made herself indispens-able, finding the right partner for everyone. And in the end, for herself too. It is useless for the wealthy Horace Vandergelder to resist - Dolly gets her man. 46 years after its first performance, Jerry Hermans musical has lost none of its charm.
October 2010
Rusalka
Premiere from Antonín Dvorák
The water nymph Rusalka becomes human because she has fallen in love with the prince. But the stakes are high: she has been struck dumb, and she must win the unconditional devotion of her beloved. The prince returns her love, but her cool manner alienates him. Soon he turns to another woman. The consequences are devastating - Antonín Dvoráks opera presents a world in which nature and artificiality, dream and reality, and love and passion are irreconcilably opposed.
November 2010
Marie Antoinette
Ballett-Premiere
The subject matter of this ballet is rooted in both Austrian and French history. It tells the story of the tragic life of Marie Antoinette, the youngest daughter of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresia, who married Louis XVI. and became Queen of France, and lost her life on the scaffold during the French Revolution. The music is taken mainly from composers of the time of Marie Antoinette.
December 2010
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
Premiere from Otto Nicolai
The figure of the dubious misfit Sir John Falstaff has become a modern myth - fat, lascivious, arrogant, yet also full of humour and passion. With his brilliant, bold tricks he causes confusion in the lives of some of the staider members of the establishment. Suddenly, the all-too-secure world of the Fluth and Reich families is stirred by a desire for adventure, intrigue and passion.
January 2011
Junge Talente des Wr. Staatsballetts
Ballett-Premiere
Recognising the talent of dancers, and providing them with the appropriate encouragement, is a major task of any ballet company. This evening gives these exceptionally gifted young people the opportunity to try out roles in which they have not yet been able to appear in the current repertoire. The works may be classical or contemporary, or pieces specially created for this occasion.
February 2011
April 2011
Le Concours
Ballett-Premiere
Maurice Béjarts dance spectacle satirises the often cruel (for the participants) procedures at ballet competitions. At the competition in this ballet, there is even a murder. While the competition continues normally, investigations are commenced in the rhythm of a crime thriller through a series of flashbacks. Six people who at one time or another wished Ada dead are under suspicion.
May 2011
Die lustige Witwe
Premiere from Franz Lehár
As the year 1905 came to an end, "The Merry Widow" celebrated its world premiere and thereafter proceeded to win over audiences all over the world. The love story of Hanna Glawari and Danilo Danilowitsch has never gone out of fashion. Marco Arturo Marelli, whose international career began at the Volksoper in 1987 with Mozarts "Così fan tutte", is now returning to our opera house in his tried and tested combined role as director and designer, staging an operetta for the first time.