OPERA IN THE QUARRY

brief information

In the 2024 season, one of the world’s most popular operas will once again transform the St. Margarethen quarry into a hot spot for music lovers from all over the world: with “Aida“, Giuseppe Verdi has created a grand opera about the immortality of love and, like almost no other opera, Verdi’s masterpiece not only blends in perfectly with the rugged rocky landscape of the St. Margarethen quarry: from 10 July – 25 August 2024, the leading team around Thaddeus Strassberger (production and stage design), under the direction of Daniel Serafin, will transfer the St. Margarethen quarry to the realm of the pharaohs. With Giuseppe Palella (costumes), the team has another master of his trade at its side to create a world of its own on the Nile. In addition to a spectacular stage set, opera-visitors can once again look forward to magnificent costume creations this year.

Lighting designer Driscoll Otto, whose Media Apparat projections have already been seen in four productions, most recently in “Turandot” 2021, has been enlisted for the lighting and lighting effects. This time, the media artists will use their visual content to project ancient Egypt onto the open-air stage. A team of experienced stunt performers under the direction of Ran Arthur Braun, who is responsible for the spectacular stunt effects for the third season in a row, will also ensure breathtaking scenes with full physical exertion. And in addition, the company CRYSTAL is responsible for unique water effects.

Conductor Iván López-Reynoso is a young, up-and-coming international conductor on the podium of the PIEDRA Festival Orchestra. He studied violin, piano and choral conducting and graduated with honours in orchestral conducting. Under his direction, the ensemble of top international singers will bring Verdi’s music to life.

Aida, the Ethiopian princess, will be embodied by the outstanding sopranos Leah Crocetto, Ekaterina Sannikova, who already shone as Abigaille in “Nabucco” in 2022, and Leah Gordon. The tenors Hovhannes Ayvazyan, Jorge Puerte and Mikheil Sheshaberidze take on the role of Captain Radames. Aida’s rival Amneris is brought to life by the impressive voices of Raehann Bryce-Davis, Kseniia Nikolaieva and Sofija Petrović. Zoltán Nagy sings the role of Amonasro, while Jongmin Park and Insung Sim embody the high priest Ramphis. Ivan Zinoviev takes on the role of the King together with Artyom Wasnetsov and Sacerdotessa is portrayed by Melissa Purnell with an impressive voice. Jongmin Park (Zaccharia, “Nabucco” 2022), Ivan Zinoviev (Moralès, “Carmen” 2023/Oberpriester des Baal, “Nabucco” 2022) and Leo An (Nabucco, “Nabucco” 2022/Ping, “Turandot” 2021) are looking forward to returning to the opera in the quarry, where they have made a lasting impression in previous productions.

Premiere is on 10 July 2024

The Opera in the Quarry has been delighting audiences with great opera performances every summer since 1996. The open-air stage in St. Margarethen in Burgenland (65 km south-east of Vienna) is nestled in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Lake Neusiedl. With the quality standard of offering popular and high-quality opera productions, the opera in the St. Margarethen quarry attracts an enthusiastic audience as well as international opera stars and music greats. The quarry in St. Margarethen is one of the most spectacular and beautiful open-air stages in Europe.

Thanks to its acoustics and impressive atmosphere, this natural, 7000 m² open-air concert hall provides an unforgettable concert experience.

DATES & INFORMATION
Main stage, St. Margarethen quarry

PREMIERE 10 JULY 2024, 8:15 pm

Further dates:
11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 and 28 July 2024
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th August 2024

Start July: Premiere 7.15 pm otherwise 8.30 pm, admission from 6:30 pm
Start in August: 8.00 pm, admission from 6.00 pm

Duration: approx. 2:45 hours
Prices: € 49 to € 168

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Iván López-Reynoso
DESIGN AND STAGE DESIGN: Thaddeus Strassberger
COSTUME: Giuseppe Palella
LIVE ACTION DIRECTOR: Ran Arthur Braun
SOUND: Volker Werner
VIDEO: Media Apparat
LIGHTING DESIGN: Driscoll Otto
WATER EFFECTS: CRYSTAL
CHOIR DIRECTOR: Walter Zeh

AIDA: Leah Crocetto / Ekaterina Sannikova / Leah Gordon
RADAMES: Jorge Puerta / Hovhannes Ayvazyan / Mikheil Sheshaberidze
AMNERIS: Raehann Bryce-Davis / Kseniia Nikolaieva / Sofija Petrović
AMONASRO: Zoltán Nagy
RAMPHIS: Jongmin Park / Insung Sim
KING: Artyom Vasnetsov / Ivan Zinoviev
SACERDOTESSA: Melissa Purnell
MESSEGARIO: Xhoiden Dervishi

Philharmonia Chorus Vienna (rehearsal: Walter Zeh)
Stunts and extras of the opera in the quarry
Piedra Festival Orchestra

www.operimsteinbruch.at (German only)

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