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 - © Markus Tordik
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Dear Friends of the „Light Muse“!
We are proudly reflecting on an artistically and overwhelmingly successful season 2009, which was less effected by the economic crisis than those of many renowned festivals,. The press raved once again this year. The live radio broadcast from Bad Ischl on Ö1 „Klassik Treffpunkt“ drew great attention to the Lehár Festival. The publicity was incredible… 500 persons attended the two hour live broadcast moderated by the classical radio personality Dr. Otto Brusatti, including performances by the Festival orchestra and soloists from both „Wiener Blut“ and „Land des Lächelns“.
As an exception to the rule our festival will not present a staged version of a Lehár operetta in 2010. Instead there will be two concert performances of „Frasquita“. Franz Lehár`s version of „Carmen“with a happy end! Vincent Schirrmacher, our star „Sou Chong“ 2009, will return to Bad Ischl as „Armand“. The great tenor, Richard Tauber, sang this role and another one by Lehár even before he had actually met the composer, who thereafter began composing for him. Romana Noack, our celebrated „Sonja“ of 2008, will return as the gypsy „Frasquita“. Vinzenz Praxmarer will conduct the chorus and orchestra of the Lehár Festival at the performances and for the CD recordings.
The festival will open 2010 with a new staged production of Emmerich Kálmán`s renownend operetta „Die Csárdásfürstin“ (“The Gypsy Princess”) on 17 July, 2010. Miriam Portmann will be heard in the title role opposite Ischl-newcomer Matyas Stopinsek as her beloved Edwin. We are especially looking forward to the return of Helga Papouschek as „Anhilte“ and Kurt Schreibmayer as Feri-Bacsi. The well-known leading team of Marius Burkert, conductor, and Wolfgang Dosch, stage director, will continue their successes of the past..
On 24 July a long overdue first performance in Bad Ischl will be presented as the second production of the summer 2010: „Der Fidele Bauer“ („The Merry Farmer“) by Leo Fall. The work is on the borderline between the Golden and the Silver Era of the operetta and takes place very near Bad Ischl in Oberwang, Upper Austria. Everyone in the audience will enjoy the glorious “folk-song” numbers such as „Ist man auch ein Bauer“, „Jeder trägt sein Pinkerl“ and „Heinerle, Heinerle hab` ka`Geld“. The production team includes Dolores Schmidinger as stage director, Katrin Köhler-Rölle as designer and Vincent Praxmarer as conductor and will be released on CD.
Our audience awaits a thrilling and diversified Lehar Festival 2010! We hope to arouse your curiosity and entice you to join us here in Bad Ischl.
Cordially
Dr. Michael Lakner
(general manager)
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