Discover Germany | Culture | Opera in the Quarry in St Margarethen
Operatic moments in the quarry Since its initial redevelopment in 1996, the quarry in Austrian St Margarethen has become a musical magnet for international opera enthusiasts. A unique location with culturally significant surroundings, the quarry offers a wonderful backdrop for the renowned opera productions it hosts. Over the years, it has also attracted well known stars of the opera and music scene, who are eager to take the chance to play for a keen audience in this one-of-a-kind setting.
Left: A schematic view of the Rigoletto staging. Photo: © Philippe Arlaud Right: A view of the operatic quarry. Photo: © Arenaria GmbH Below: Rigoletto director Philippe Arlaud. Photo: © Jean-Marc Nigon Bottom: Rigoletto conductor Anja Bihlmaier. Photo: © Neda Navaee
TEXT: THOMAS SCHROERS
Nestled in the open country between the Leitha mountain and the Steppensee, the quarry in St Margarethen and its adjacent region is a UNESCO world heritage. Under the proprietorship of the private foundation Esterházy, the quarry location has seen an extensive expansion in 2006. With attention to detail the Vienna-based architecture group AWG found a way to celebrate the sensible space through exciting architecture. Thus, one of the most beautiful and imposing open-air stages in Europe was created. Atmospheric and with an impressive acoustic, the quarry includes the main stage (5,000 seats) and the Ruffini stage (2,300 seats). In 2017, Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto will come to the quarry and it will not only be played on the main stage, but also be underscored by state-of-the-art video technology, enabling the production to play the quarry itself. In conjunction with the 52 | Issue 51 | June 2017
multifaceted possibilities of the location, director Philippe Arlaud’s staging and Anja Bihlmaier’s conducting will be able to present the piece in all its dimensions. Next to the quarry, the foundation also presents events at the nearby Castle Esterházy. For centuries, the castle has been home to music and art; composer Jospeh Haydn even lived there for a few decades. A highlight is the baroque ballroom, aptly named the Haydn hall, where events like the concert series classic.Esterhazy and the HERBSTGOLD festival are staged. The September festival HERBSTGOLD will take its audience on a musical journey from classical concerts with the Haydn Philharmonics, to Balkan music with the King’ Naat Veliov’s Kocani Orkestar to Jazz legend Manu Dibango. The concluding highlight will be a marathon concert of various quartets all throughout the castle Esterházy.
More information can be found online: www.operimsteinbruch.at www.esterhazy.at www.herbstgold.at Tickets are available at: Ticketbüro pan.event GmbH Esterhazyplatz 4 7000 Eisenstadt T + 43 2682 65 0 65 tickets@panevent.at