In Vienna, there are two major opera houses - the Staatsoper and the Volksoper. But there's also something unique, old in appearance but innovative in content. It's the Theater an der Wien, which translates to "Theater on the banks of the Vienna" in German - Vienna was the name of the river that has now been replaced by the long and delicious Naschmarkt.
In this theater, Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Beethoven's "Fidelio" were born, operas that immediately (or almost immediately) became famous. In the 1990s, this wonderful building had no opera, and musicals were performed quietly, infrequently. But then opera triumphed - how could it not in Vienna, where everything is steeped in music and opera? There is no permanent company; performances are done on a festival basis - they select the best and perform 5-6 shows. Each performance is worth its weight in gold. Then you can only regret not seeing it live. But recording, especially as perfect as today's, allows us to stop time and watch all the best. It's such a pity that there was no video recording during Mozart and Beethoven's time! Now the theater is undergoing extensive restoration, and Barhatova and Loy's performances are being held in one of the museum halls. And we are watching outstanding performances from past seasons.
- Text by Alexey Parin
- Text by Alexey Parin
Show & Tell
A sea of blood and gentle roulades
Alexey Parin about Handel’s epic opera “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” at the An der Wien Theater. Pathos and irony, a crazy mixture of genres and eras, references to silent cinema and theater of the 20th century, hello to the era of passionate fashion for Egypt in the 1920s and the golden age of Hollywood...
Romance of Madness
Opera by Sergey Prokofiev, staged at the Vienna Theater an der Wien on the big screen. The libretto is based on the novel by the decadent, symbolist, erotomaniac Valery Bryusov...
The project Theater an der Wien with Alexey Parin in the Zaryadye Concert Hall continues with “Tosca”
This time we talked about the history of the opera and its success, about why Giacomo Puccini is a very smart composer, and the Tosca script is perfect for arthouse cinema and, of course, about Martin Kušej (spoiler: he is a very cool director).
For fans of Alexei Parin: lecture before the screening of the opera “Tais” in the Zaryadye Hall
This time we talked about the composer Jules Massenet in the context of French opera. As always, there are a lot of interesting details and little things that are completely incomprehensible how they coexist in such quantities in the head of our favourite opera critic ;)
Alexey Parin about the opera “Saul” at the Theater an der Wien: Old Testament history as a family drama
Claus Guth's production at Theater Ander Wien emphasizes working with actors and treats the biblical story as a family drama, the center of which is the invasion of a charismatic stranger into an already established family group, torn apart by its own conflicts and passions.
Premiere of the opera "The Fiery Angel" at the Moscow Zaryadye Concert Hall
Opera critic, librettist, translator Alexey Parin tells about our new project “Theater an der Wien”, the fascinating history of the theatre, outstanding performances of past seasons and about Prokofiev’s “The Fiery Angel” staged by director Andrea Breth, which mercilessly placed the action in a madhouse.
Alexey Parin about the opera “La Wally” at the Theater an der Wien
At the premiere of the opera “Theater an der Wien: La Wally” at the Moscow Zaryadye Concert Hall, opera critic, librettist, translator Alexey Parin tells about a rarely performed musical drama by Alfredo Catalani based on the best-selling novel by Wilhelmine von Hillern.
Theater an der Wien: The Fiery Angel
Prokofiev’s Fiery Angel is one of the outstanding operas of the 20th century.
Аn der Wien: Thaïs
A dazzling spectacle about the unity and struggle of opposites: earthly and spiritual love
