Vienna State Opera launches its new season with a free, star-studded concert extravaganza
On a warm September evening in Vienna, the Vienna State Opera celebrated its 70th anniversary with a star-studded open-air gala concert. The event, held in a Viennese park, was free for the public and aimed to be an inclusive and welcoming spectacle for all.
The concert featured world-class singers such as Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca, German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, Finnish soprano Camilla Nylund, and French tenor Benjamin Bernheim. Elina Garanca expressed her joy at being a part of the event, stating that their goal was to communicate with people regardless of race, nationality, political situation, or cultural differences.
Thanthida Helbardt, an embassy employee from Thailand, was among the many who attended the concert after learning about it online. Jeremy Gregoire, a Canadian ice hockey player who recently moved to Vienna, also expressed interest in the open-air gala concert.
In recent years, opera houses worldwide have implemented measures to attract new opera-goers to what is often perceived as a high-brow and old-fashioned world. The gala concert was the Vienna State Opera's latest effort to make the opera more accessible to new listeners.
The concert park was closed to more visitors before the event due to security reasons, causing some concert-goers to be turned away. However, many visitors still attended the concert and sat on picnic blankets or chairs, enjoying audience favorites from operas such as Puccini's "Tosca," Wagner and Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," and Strauss pieces.
The Austrian broadcaster ORF aired the concert with a one-hour delay on Sunday evening, allowing those who could not attend in person to still enjoy the magical performance. Elina Garanca also mentioned that she hoped the gala concert would become a yearly tradition.
The open-air gala concert marked a significant milestone for the Vienna State Opera, showcasing the timeless beauty and inclusivity of opera to a wide audience. As the opera house begins its 2025-26 season, it does so with renewed vigour and a commitment to making opera accessible and enjoyable for all.
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