Rigoletto♪, G. Verdi, the 29.
Hänsel und Gretel♪, E. Humperdinck, the 30.
from Saturday 28 December 2024 to Thursday 2 January 2025,
5 nights
Arrangement 62, New Year’s Eve
Arrangement 62, New Year’s Eve
Rigoletto
G. Verdi
G. Verdi
As already in his Luisa Miller, Verdi’s eponymous figure Rigoletto is not a man of rank, but a representative of the people, in this case a malformed court jester. The composer devoted himself with the greatest care to the psychological shaping of his hero. This may have been due to the fact that the Venetian censorship had initially banned the opera for insulting majesty, and that it could only be performed on stage after numerous changes. Since the libretto was changed several times and the scenic structure was also shaken, the unity of the play had to be preserved and restored in other ways. Thus Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) transposed it into the personal, tragic conflict of the Rigoletto, which is decisive for the plot and the connection between the characters. The composer succeeded excellently in combining recitatives, arias and duets into a higher musical unity and in dissolving the old structure of the number opera. He himself even regarded his work as revolutionary.
After the music had been criticized as too shallow and superficial by contemporaries, especially by followers of Richard Wagner, only Igor Stravinsky was able to overturn this verdict: He praised the ingenuity of the opera. Today, "Rigoletto" is part of the standard repertoire of every opera house, and the popular arias "La donna è mobile" or "Caro nome", which are extremely demanding to sing, are often performed in song recitals in isolation.
After the music had been criticized as too shallow and superficial by contemporaries, especially by followers of Richard Wagner, only Igor Stravinsky was able to overturn this verdict: He praised the ingenuity of the opera. Today, "Rigoletto" is part of the standard repertoire of every opera house, and the popular arias "La donna è mobile" or "Caro nome", which are extremely demanding to sing, are often performed in song recitals in isolation.
Carlo Rizzi -
Pierre Audi♪
Pierre Audi
Director Pierre Audi was born in Lebanon in 1957, then he grew up between Beirut and Paris. In 1979, Pierre Audi founded the Almeida Theater in London and its Contemporary Music Festival, which he directed until 1989. Since 1988, Pierre Audi has been Director of the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, crowned in 2016 with the “Company” award. of the Year ”by the International Opera Awards. In addition to his responsibilities at the Amsterdam Opera, Pierre Audi was artistic director of the Holland Festival for ten years (until 2014). In June 2015, Pierre Audi was appointed Artistic Director of Park Avenue Armory, in New York. In 2018, Pierre Audi took over the management of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence to prepare for 2019 and staged the world premiere of End of Party (Kurtag) at La Scala.
Director Pierre Audi was born in Lebanon in 1957, then he grew up between Beirut and Paris. In 1979, Pierre Audi founded the Almeida Theater in London and its Contemporary Music Festival, which he directed until 1989. Since 1988, Pierre Audi has been Director of the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, crowned in 2016 with the “Company” award. of the Year ”by the International Opera Awards. In addition to his responsibilities at the Amsterdam Opera, Pierre Audi was artistic director of the Holland Festival for ten years (until 2014). In June 2015, Pierre Audi was appointed Artistic Director of Park Avenue Armory, in New York. In 2018, Pierre Audi took over the management of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence to prepare for 2019 and staged the world premiere of End of Party (Kurtag) at La Scala.
Nina Minasyan, Monika Bohinec, Dimitri Korchak, Amartuvshin Enkhbat
Staatsoper
Hänsel und Gretel
E. Humperdinck
E. Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) wrote his late romantic fairy-tale opera in the early 1890s. It was premiered on December 23, 1893 at the Court Theater in Weimar under the baton of Richard Strauss. Even today, "Hansel and Gretel" is preferably performed during Advent and Christmas at all major opera houses and enjoys great popularity not only among children.
Musically, the work is in the tradition of Richard Wagner, although folk-song motifs and songs are increasingly incorporated into the composition. Adelheid Wette, Humperdinck’s sister, wrote the libretto and had originally planned a fairy tale play as a domestic theater performance. An idea and an initial singspiel developed into a full-length opera, which was already an extraordinary success at its premiere. Already in the atmospheric overture, among others, the well-known "Abendsegen" and the "Hokuspokus" sound.
The plot is largely based on the Grimm fairy tale classic of the same name and, in addition to stagings that are faithful to the work, inspires directors to come up with a wide range of - sometimes exotic - ideas. Fortunately, however, there is always a happy ending for the maltreated children, as well as the deserved punishment for the evil crunchy witch and a consoling final message: "When adversity rises to the highest, the Lord God reaches out to us!"
Musically, the work is in the tradition of Richard Wagner, although folk-song motifs and songs are increasingly incorporated into the composition. Adelheid Wette, Humperdinck’s sister, wrote the libretto and had originally planned a fairy tale play as a domestic theater performance. An idea and an initial singspiel developed into a full-length opera, which was already an extraordinary success at its premiere. Already in the atmospheric overture, among others, the well-known "Abendsegen" and the "Hokuspokus" sound.
The plot is largely based on the Grimm fairy tale classic of the same name and, in addition to stagings that are faithful to the work, inspires directors to come up with a wide range of - sometimes exotic - ideas. Fortunately, however, there is always a happy ending for the maltreated children, as well as the deserved punishment for the evil crunchy witch and a consoling final message: "When adversity rises to the highest, the Lord God reaches out to us!"
Axel Kober - Adrian Noble
Regine Hangler, Szilvia Vörös, Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Norbert Ernst
Staatsoper
New-Years Eve Concert, the 31.
Riccardo Muti♪
Riccardo Muti
Riccardo Muti, born July 28, 1941 in Naples, is an Italian conductor of Neapolitan and Apulian origin. He is invited to conduct the New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2018 and 2021. Riccardo Muti is one of the most regular guest conductors of the New York Philharmonic and the National Orchestra of France.
Musikverein
Concert of the Wiener Symphoniker, the 1.
Marie Jacquot
Ewa Plonka, Ekaterina Gubanova, Benjamin Bruns, Mika Kares
Konzerthaus
Hotel informations for Vienna 62
Rosewood Vienna *****
Ideally located on Petersplatz, one of the most famous squares in the old town, the Rosewood Vienna ***** is a luxurious and elegant intimate hotel.
Its spacious and contemporary rooms, its SPA, its Brasserie Neue Hoheit and its rooftop bar with breathtaking views of the imperial city will make your stay unique and memorable. You will reach the Staatsoper in about ten minutes on foot.
Its spacious and contemporary rooms, its SPA, its Brasserie Neue Hoheit and its rooftop bar with breathtaking views of the imperial city will make your stay unique and memorable. You will reach the Staatsoper in about ten minutes on foot.
Sacher *****
Built in 1876, the famous Sacher hotel *****, has become an institution of the Austrian capital. Standing in the heart of Vienna, facing the stage door of the Opera, the Sacher is the meeting place of Viennese high society. In keeping with the tradition of offering a true “home” to the guest, every room and suite is decorated with taste and style. Of superior comfort, the rooms also provide authentic baroque furniture and 19th-century paintings. You will not miss at the hotel the fine chocolate cake of the same name, the cosy Rote bar restaurant or the Sacher spa that proposes a multitude of body cares, including the Sacher Hot Chocolate care.
Bristol *****
Standing next to the Opera house, the 5 star Bristol hotel, which opened in 1894, has conserved its unique character in a luxurious and refined atmosphere.
Its 150 rooms are decorated with valuable furniture as well as works of art and offer all modern conveniences. Enjoy a glass of champagne after the opera performance in the traditional Bristol Bar - still the heart of Hotel Bristol.
Its 150 rooms are decorated with valuable furniture as well as works of art and offer all modern conveniences. Enjoy a glass of champagne after the opera performance in the traditional Bristol Bar - still the heart of Hotel Bristol.
The Guesthouse Vienna ****
The Guesthouse, ideally located behind the Opera and in front of the Albertina, offers modern and unique rooms. The contemporary furniture gives a private atmosphere and visitors will enjoy an unforgettable view of the city from every room by day and by night. Breakfasts are served at the ground floor where you will find the restaurant Brasserie & Bakery that combines perfectly traditional dishes and modern cuisine.
Kaiserhof Wien ****
The Kaiserhof hotel **** is ideally located in the heart of Vienna at less than a fifteen-minute walk from the Staatsoper, in a quiet little street. Its 74 elegant and charming rooms combine traditional decoration and modern facilities. A bar, a cosy winter garden, a sauna, a Turkish bath and a fitness centre will complete its installations. Not to be missed, the hearty breakfast with its Viennese specialties, that will delight all the guests.
All-inclusive price per person for Vienna 62
Single room/ night
Rosewood Vienna
On request
Auf Anfrage
Sacher
On request
170-410,- Euro
Bristol
On request
140-420,- Euro
The Guesthouse Vienna
On request
140-280,- Euro
Kaiserhof Wien
On request
40-190,- Euro
The price includes
Overnights including breakfast, good opera tickets, scheduled flight, return taxi transfers, travel cancellation expenses insurance.