Vienna State Opera Awaits Several Premieres

One cannot deny State Opera Director Bogdan Roščić a well-measured optimism: "You see, we assume that the world will still be standing at least until June 30, 2026." At least, the 60-year-old has fixed the new schedule for his house until this time. And this brings five premieres over the course and, for the first time, an "Opera Air" at the start. The unifying bond in the eyes of the impresario: "I am against Spartan thesis theater."

"Open Air" in the Vienna Burggarten

Thus, on September 7, a concert is scheduled in the Burggarten with free admission and under the open sky, where audience favorites like Elīna Garanča, Jonas Kaufmann, Benjamin Bernheim, or Sonya Yoncheva will take turns, which will be broadcast live by ORF III and Arte. It has always bothered him that the State Opera does not celebrate its restart after the summer break, which is now changing, said Roščić.

Accessibility is central to this. "The State Opera is not the toy of the upper classes and certainly not of the insiders - it has to be there for everyone," the host made clear at a media talk on Friday. The program is the decisive dish - "not the director's cheese that is then grated over it," Roščić used a gastronomic metaphor.

"The Bartered Bride" and "Luisa Miller"

Culinarily, the premiere kickoff is made on September 26 with a German-language performance of "The Bartered Bride" by Bedřich Smetana, with director Dirk Schmeding making his house debut. On December 16, Otto Schenk's traditional "Fidelio" production from 1970 will be replaced - with a reinterpretation under the musical direction of Franz Welser-Möst and in a production by puppet magician Nikolaus Habjan, who also makes his house debut.

On February 7, Verdi's "Luisa Miller" follows, which will be conducted by Michele Mariotti in the pit, while the exiled Russian director Philipp Grigorian presents challenges to the stage technology. "He has found a mechanism by which the stage can transform in a flash," Roščić was impressed.

The new Da Ponte cycle by Barrie Kosky is known to be completed. "Now we are dedicating ourselves to the even more difficult works of Mozart," to which the State Opera chief counts the composer's last opera, "La Clemenza di Tito," which will be staged by Jan Lauwers.

A house premiere finally stands at the end of the premiere series, when Georges Bizet's "Les Pêcheurs De Perles" is heard for the first time at the Ring. "In our postcolonial times, hardly any director wants to tackle it," Roščić referred to the setting of old Ceylon. Directing shooting star Ersan Mondtag dares to tackle it, with a top cast available in Juan Diego Flórez and Ludovic Tézier.

Stemme, Netrebko, Kaufmann

There are also top casts in some repertoire performances. For example, Nina Stemme celebrates her personal role debut as Klytämnestra in "Elektra", Anna Netrebko can be seen in "Tosca" and "Nabucco", Jonas Kaufmann for the first time scenically as Eisenstein in "Die Fledermaus" and Asmik Grigorian in "Eugene Onegin".

Alessandra Ferri had her first appearance as the new ballet director, offering two premieres at the Ring. "Kallirhoe" choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky in October and then in March 2026 the evening "Visionary Dances" with works by Justin Peck, Wayne McGregor, and Twyla Tharp. Regarding revivals and the repertoire, alongside young artists, it is stated: "We pay our respects to those who shaped ballet in the 20th century."

In addition to the performances at the State Opera, there are two more premieres at the Volksoper, where "Marie Antoinette" by Thierry Malandain will be shown in December and "American Signatures" in May 2026. Under this title, choreographies by Jerome Robbins, Pam Tanowitz, Lar Lubovitch, and Jessica Lang are hidden.

Schedule for Nest Secret

However, the schedule for the new location Nest, which is dedicated to children's and youth theater as well as smaller/avant-garde projects, is still secret. The presentation is scheduled for May 26.

But already satisfied with the sheer numbers of the new venue was Managing Director Petra Bohuslav. From December to March, Nest achieved ticket revenues of 244,515 euros and an occupancy rate of 94.03 percent.

The main house is doing even better. In the core formats, it achieved an occupancy rate of 99.79 percent in the current season up to and including March, which is slightly below the record season 2023/24 with its 99.94 percent and a turnover of 42.7 million euros. "It is becoming apparent that we can top this record result again," Bohuslav also expressed optimism - at least here until June 30, 2026.

In view of the burgeoning budget gaps in the federal government, Roščić showed a fighting spirit, should cost-cutting ideas also affect his house: "The Austrian politics need to be disillusioned that there is still something to be gained here. I can gladly prove this to you with numbers until the doctor comes." The State Opera has already achieved every conceivable saving: "We have picked all the low-hanging and high-hanging fruits." The only option left is massive performance restrictions and "firing" people. "We await developments."

Matinee at the Vienna State Opera

For the general public, Bogdan Roščić will present his plans for the upcoming season again on Sunday from 11 a.m. as part of a matinee, for which he invites to the stage of the State Opera. In addition to the forward-looking program focus, artist talks are planned, with directors such as Nikolaus Habjan and Ersan Mondtag among those announced. Furthermore, there will be live performances by stars like Benjamin Bernheim, Malin Byström, Günther Groissböck, or Camilla Nylund, accompanied by the State Opera Orchestra under Patrick Lange. For those who cannot be there live, ORF III will broadcast the event, which will also be streamed on the State Opera's streaming platform and YouTube channel.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.