Kammerspiele der Josefstadt premieres Bernstein and Karajan play

The Kammerspiele der Josefstadt hosted the Austrian premiere of ‘Letzte Runde’ (Last Round), a play by Peter Danish. Directed by Guy Ben-Aharon, the production is described as a sophisticated boulevard piece.

The play centers on a fictionalized 1988 encounter between legendary musical figures Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan at the Hotel Sacher’s Blue Bar in Vienna. The narrative explores the rivalry and mutual artistic respect between the two men, who were 70 and 80 years old at the time. The plot highlights their contrasting personalities and physical struggles, including Bernstein’s health issues and Karajan’s recovery from a stroke.

The production features Michael Dangl portraying Karajan and Günter Franzmeier playing Bernstein.