André Heller's New Music Project: "Remassuri" at the Vienna City Theater

People should enter the room and "be captivated from the very first second," said Heller at a press event on Thursday afternoon.

The announcement of "Remassuri" promises "a fascinating, unprecedented show on the diversity of Viennese music." Among those participating are the New Viennese Concert Schrammeln, Stippich and Stippich, Mummenschanz, virtuoso singers, and yodelers. There will be dance sequences and shadow plays. Additionally, a "small puppet museum" has been set up in a side room: "I have a close connection to the puppet, the puppet is an important Viennese figure," said Heller, who, like Molden and Strauss, does not perform himself.

"Remassuri": From "Dear Augustin" to Falco

The content of "Remassuri" is "up to changes," a "work in progress," emphasized Heller. "We are trying it out. If we don't like something, we take it out again. You can't do that with Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'," he chuckled. Molden revealed specifics about the content: "There are hits from the Viennese song area, but also pieces that the average visitor probably doesn't know. There are pieces from Austropop and operetta." And after a brief pondering towards Heller and Strauss: "Is operetta included?" Heller: "That will be seen at the premiere."

The program ranges from "Dear Augustin," "the very first Viennese song ever" (Molden) through Falco and up to the present. "The musical attire is Schrammel music, a music that has emerged from many international ingredients," explained Molden. "When you hear 'Long Live the Central Cemetery' in the arrangement by Stippich, you get goosebumps," said Strauss. "Not just the dead," added Heller. The show lasts about 75 minutes - without a break, "so that energy is not lost," said Heller.

"Authentic Viennese Music" at the City Theater

The idea for "Remassuri" matured in 2021 during the pandemic, when a house concert was held in Heller's apartment. This resulted, among other things, in an evening at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. What is possible in northern Germany should also be feasible in Vienna, thought Heller. "He had the idea that an establishment could be created in the first district where people could be picked up, who might otherwise be led to other realms by the Mozart wig-wearers at Stephansplatz," Molden recounted. At the City Theater, they could now experience "authentic Viennese music."

Production Budget Was Around 100,000

It is the smallest project he has been involved in over the past 60 years, said Heller. "This is a special challenge once again." The production budget was around 100,000 euros, "not a penny of taxpayers' money" was spent, "I begged from myself and others," said Heller. The City Theater - to which Heller attributed much charm - was "not rented particularly cheaply," he emphasized, "but the place is only available there - three minutes from the State Opera."

There is only a "pigeon problem" left to solve, a courtyard in front of the entrance is "still covered in droppings," as Heller noted in good Viennese. "We are seriously working on it every day to find a solution." From mid-March, people should think when leaving the performance, according to Heller: "They didn't rip us off, but offered an energy that reached us as well."

(APA/Red)

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