Schloss Tabor stages innovative 'Wiener Blut' operetta premiere

The Opernfestspiele at Schloss Tabor opened on 5 August with a re‑imagined production of Johann Strauss II’s operetta "Wiener Blut." Director Rita Sereinig relocated the story to a luxury cruise ship, transforming the castle’s stage into a maritime setting complete with a captain’s cabin, pool bar and a ten‑metre golden inflatable krake named Schani. The performance featured around 164 costumes, choreography by Sabine Arthold, and music led by conductor Peter Sommerer with the Junge Philharmonie Brandenburg. Audiences responded with twelve minutes of standing ovations and prolonged applause.

Landeshauptmann Hans Peter Doskozil highlighted the festival’s cultural importance, noting the production’s blend of classic Strauss charm and contemporary theatrical flair. The finale, in which male characters are left adrift in a lifeboat, underscored the show’s modern twist on gender dynamics, while the spectacular krake added a memorable visual climax.