Martin Ganeider - Page 5

Musicals on Monday? Normally the theatres are dark and the actors are enjoying their well-deserved day off, not so in Vösendorf, one of Austria's richest municipals. Denise Jastraunig ( curr. US Jellylorum, Jennyanydots, CATS/Vienna) has been talking about the concert idea for a while, and she found a wonderful place for the (hopefully) concert series named MUSICAL MONDAY. Together with Silke Braas-Wolter, Lucius Wolter ( curr. US Gus, Old Deuteronomy; CATS/Vienna), and Florian Fetterle (curr. US Munkustrap, Gus, Old Deuteronomy; CATS/Vienna) Jastraunig found the perfect mix for an entertaining evening with songs from shows, old and new. One of Vienna's most famous piano players, Belush Korenyi accompanied the four in Schloss Vösendorfs vaulted cellar, a charming location, just outside of Vienna. Musical Monday's audience honored their performance with standing ovations. Every good musical concert needs a song that goes like this and something from the jukebox to end the evening on a high. Let's hope for some more Mondays filled with musical melodies and many more of Jastraunig's colleagues on the guest list. A good start to something new.

On December 4th, 1956, history has been written in Sam Phillips Sun Records Studio. The likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis bumped into each other jammed together, and recorded something that happens only once in a lifetime. The star-studded musicians kicked their careers off in Sam Phillips studio. The man who found them and made them into what we know now, Legends in the Rock'n'Roll universe.

The Raimund Theater is open again, more beautiful than ever before. After almost 2 years of refurbishment, the house is ready to welcome back its audience. There might be no better way to open a house with a splendid gala. A journey through the theatre's history from operetta to the golden area of musicals with familiar faces on stage. VBW's very own artistic director, Christian Struppeck, the Master of the house together with Musical Diva Ana Milva Gomes acted as the hosts of the gala. The stage has been home to many great actors from past and present. Many shows have been developed in the house in Viennas 6th district, some of them went down as the greatest musicals in Austrian musical history. Being part of the Reopening from such a historical and magical place is like a once-in-a-lifetime event. Celebrities together with musical theatre lovers followed Struppeck's invitation to the Grand Reopening.

The record-breaking Musical is back after its summer break for another season. An invitation to the Jellicle Ball you can't refuse. It is a joy to watch this talented cast, even the understudies are first cast material, like Jo Lucy Rackham (U/S Rumpelteazer) or the fabulous Lucius Wolter as Old Deuteronomy.

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The answer is yes but not a song of an angry voice, it's full of joy and happiness. St. Margarethen, usually home for huge summer Opera Open Air productions, welcomed a Musical Star Ensemble for a Best Of Concert. St. Margarethen's quarry is located close to the famous Neusiedler See, the largest endorheic sea in central Europe, everything you need for a perfect day/night out.

If you haven't got any tickets for the stellar Musical Concert in the breathtaking St. Maragrethen Quarry, here is your chance to save 10% until Sunday, to honor International Friendship day.

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The Virus we all have been talking about for quite some time is still with us but nevertheless, our country and everything we missed so dear is coming back. Enough with all those cancellations and postponed opening dates, we are more than ready ( and mostly vaccinated) to get entertained.

Due to the huge success, the FLOATING CONCERTS are coming back later this summer. A truly remarkable idea, floating on the beautiful Alte Donau, with fine music and great artists. Vienna at its best.

On June 25th and 26th Anet­ta Szabo, Ant­je Koh­ler, Tan­ja Petra­sek, Ste­fan Blei­ber­schnig, and Mar­tin Pasching also known as CulinarICAL ALLSTARS are filling the stage of the VINDOBONA with Musical Meldodies.

Viennas Raimund Theatre is fully refurbished and even more beautiful than ever before. The house will open its doors in December with the Opening Night of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönbergs Blockbuster MISS SAIGON. Representatives of the press got a first glimpse of the cast and theatre. Christian Struppeck found a promising cast for the german speaking production. It's been 30 years since the opening of MISS SAIGON in the West End of London, a long and successful story. The Vienna production will be directed by Laurence Connor, who is responsible for the new productions in London New York, and Tokyo. There will be a helicopter, there will be love, drama, and of course the sound of a solo saxophone.

Here it is, your catchy tune! Two words, that's all Stephen Sondheim needs. He, Sondheim is a master of lyrics, a composing genius, a living Musical Legend. Nobody apart from him, is able to play and juggling with words to create the most amazing and sometimes horrible to learn, lines in musical theatre. The Volksoper has its own history with Sondheim shows. After A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and SWEENEY TODD, it is time for Sondheim number three, INTO THE WOODS, directed by Olivier Tambosi and Simon Eichenberger. As mentioned before, it is good to be back in a theatre, and it is safe to be in the auditorium again. (click here to read about the Voksoper Covid 19 prevention concept)

Expect the unexpected. CATS is back in full swing. After a far too long break due to the COVID 19 pandemic situation, Christian Struppeck is happy to reopen the theatre for its audience. CATS, a record-breaking show in a record-breaking run in Vienna. After all these months without a live performance, without a show, there are no words for this indescribable feeling when you are allowed back in the auditorium. Alexander Aulers's (Munkustrap) first lines of the show filled the room (where it happened) with what we all have missed, theatre magic. Christian Struppeck mentioned in his Pre-show Welcome back speech, that we all streamed concerts, watched shows online but now it's time to get back to what the theatre is all about a live performance.

If you are familiar with the work of Georgia Stitt ( married to a guy called Robert Jason Brown), you don't need further explanation, if not, read carefully. Georgia Stitt (Music) together with Marcy Heisler (Lyrics) created the cycle originally based on Heisler's poems. Five songs, five women, five different stories, five soliloquies, each and every one framed with some fine emotional tunes. Stitt's and Heisler's collaboration gifted us with a bittersweet masterpiece. You can feel the gentle side of New York City in the ALPHABET CITY CYCLE. Ludovico Lucchesi Palli, (Producer and Host) got his hands on a copy of the 2009 recording with Kate Baldwin. He, to no surprise, fell in love with the material and decided to bring it on stage (or due to COVID19 on screen) and present Stitt's work to the german speaking musical Universe.

After „A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' and „Sweeney Todd', the Volksoper will include a third musical from Stephen Sondheim in its repertoire. „Into The Woods' is a witty, humourous masterpiece about what is going to happen after the fairy tale books Happily ever After.

Austria's government announced the reopening of theatres, museums, and other art venues in our country. Some good news after such a long and unpredictable time.

There might be a light at the end of the tunnel, but as long as we are not there, streaming concerts are our thing at the moment. Nick Körbers MISCAST Facebook live Event has been quite a success, it's no surprise that he is going to do it all again.

After numerous streaming events, here is one we have all been waiting for since Covid-19 closed all our theatres.

You can purchase tickets for a real event, for artists performing on a real stage. In the heart of the picturesque Wachau inscribed as Cultural Landscape in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites, Austria's Musical Couple #1 Marjan Shaki and Lukas Perman present MUSICAL AND MORE a show full of famous musical melodies.