Great success for ‚Aida‘ at the Opera in the Quarry
Almost 100,000 visitors came to the St. Margarethen quarry this summer in the 30th anniversary year of the Esterhazy Private Foundations. Cultural critics and audiences alike were delighted with the production:
‘A production worth seeing, also musically impressive, whose scenic opulence is reminiscent of the Verona Festival.’ – Die Presse
‘[…] It is a production of superlatives. […] fascinating light and water effects […] The entire ensemble including choir and orchestra under the musical direction of Ivan Lopez-Reynoso is convincing.’ – ORF
‘[…] there are said to have been visitors who could not believe that music was being played live. The musical quality of the open-air performances is so grandiose – as was once again demonstrated at this rousing ‘Aida’ premiere.’ – Concerti
In addition to a breathtaking stage design by director Thaddeus Strassberger and spectacular costume creations by Giuseppe Palella, the numerous visitors enjoyed the high-calibre cast of the opera production. Aida, the Ethiopian princess, was embodied by the outstanding sopranos Leah Crocetto, Ekaterina Sannikova, who already shone as Abigaille in ‘Nabucco’ in the quarry in 2022, and Leah Gordon. The tenors Jorge Puerta, Hovhannes Ayvazyan and Mikheil Sheshaberidze took on the role of Captain Radamès. Aida’s rival Amneris was brought to life by the impressive voices of Raehann Bryce-Davis, Kseniia Nikolaieva and Sofija Petrović.
With an Egyptian temple complete with an oversized sarcophagus and a golden elephant, a stage set was created in the quarry this summer, in which director Thaddeus Strassberger depicted the plot as a journey along the Nile to the underworld and the afterlife. So that the opera guests could also feel the power of the Nile, for the first time in the history of the opera in the quarry there were water show effects, for which the French company CRYSTAL was responsible. Strassberger’s view of the work was inspired by the ancient Egyptian Two-Way Book, which describes the paths to the afterlife: According to Egyptian mythology, when the body dies, the soul has the choice of following the river of fire or that of water. This ancient metaphor was also incorporated into the collaboration with action designer Ran Arthur Braun, so water was given an equally important role alongside pyrotechnics. Water is a magical element that can be powerful and raging or calming with a gentle ripple. The water of the Nile is the indispensable source of the entire Egyptian culture and its wealth.
Director of Oper im Steinbruch, Daniel Serafin, summarises with satisfaction: ‘With this new production of “Aida”, we have managed to build on the success of previous years and even surpass it. The great response from the audience confirms our concept of presenting spectacular, but also musically high-quality productions in the unique setting of the opera house in the quarry. We are already working at full steam for next year. For the first time, we will be showing ‘The Flying Dutchman’, a work by Richard Wagner. Many of our visitors were so enthusiastic about this year’s production that they have already secured tickets for next year’s opera.’
The Flying Dutchman
In melancholy daydreams, the captain’s daughter Senta fantasises about the eerie figure of a sailor condemned to eternal life, who is only allowed to go ashore every seven years in order to win the love of a woman – only such love and unwavering loyalty until death can release the undead from his curse.
No composer before Richard Wagner has set the roaring of the whipped-up sea so thrillingly to music, no one has been able to give the horror of a ghost ship such a vivid sound. With a playing time of less than two and a half hours, the first production of a work by Richard Wagner at the ‘Opera in the Quarry’ promises a fascinating summer experience, in which the rugged rocky landscape of the St. Margarethen quarry once again becomes the ideal backdrop for a thrilling opera performance.
DATES & INFORMATION
Premiere: 9 July 2025
Further dates:
10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 31 July 2025
1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 August 2025
Start July: 8.30 pm, admission from 6.30 pm
Start August: 8.00 pm, admission from 6.00 pm
Duration: approx. 2.45 hours (incl. one interval)
Prices: € 29 to € 168
TICKET ORDERS
Ticket office pan.event
T: +43 2682 65065
E: tickets@panevent.at
www.operimsteinbruch.at
