Seebühne Mörbisch am Neusiedlersee
Stage design of Land of Smiles, Franz Lehar (2019)

The Seefestspiele Mörbisch, originally: Seespiele Mörbisch, is an annual operetta festival in Mörbisch am See (Austria). With around 150,000 visitors, the Mörbisch Lake Festival is the world's largest festival of the operetta genre. In addition to operettas, classical musicals are also performed on an irregular basis. Above all, the natural scenery of Neusiedler See is always incorporated into the stage set. The area is very flat, so transmission technology specially developed for the Lake Festival is used.

History

Stage design for Eine Nacht in Venedig (2015)
360°x180°-Panoramic picture of theSeefestspiele Mörbisch 2004
Premiere of Giuditta (2003)
Premiere of Wiener Blut (2007)

Economic-touristic foundations

The creation and development of the Seespiele Mörbisch was dominated by considerations of tourism policy. When, from 1953 onwards, efforts were made to develop Burgenland's tourism and to transform the visiting and transit area into a place to stay and relax, Lake Neusiedl and the lakeside communities were at the centre of these efforts. In the municipality of Mörbisch am See, the road between Rust and Mörbisch was extended with strong support from the tourism department, an 1800 m long lake dam, which opened up Lake Neusiedl to visitors from Mörbisch, was built and a lido was constructed.[1] Mörbisch became the fourth important tourist community on the lake, alongside Rust, Neusiedl am See and Podersdorf am See. In 1956, the people of Mörbisch invited to a two-day Seefest. Together with the Austrian National Tourist Office, the community organised a so-called Night and Lake Festival, which was attended by 6000 guests. The programme offered night rides in decorated motorboats, music was provided by dance bands, Viennese artists performed a complete cabaret programme, and folk song and dance groups also performed.[2]

In 1957, the Burgenland press announced the first highlight of the development of Mörbisch into a Burgenland tourist centre through the construction of a lakeside hotel..[1] und der Abhaltung von Seespielen an und damit verbunden den Beginn eines neuen Abschnitts burgenländischen Wirtschafts- und Kulturaufstiegs.[3]

Foundation, technical equipment

The initiative for the Seespiele, founded in the years 1955–1957, came from the celebrated chamber singer Herbert Alsen (among others) at the Vienna State Opera (1906–1978), who, together with his wife, the costume designer Gisela Bossert (†2012), who had worked in Berlin, discovered the venue by chance while looking for a holiday location that was climatically conducive to his voice, and whom the peculiar musicality of this landscape[4] permanently touched. Alsen's plans found favour with the municipal council of Mörbisch as well as with the representative of the province, Landesrat Hans Bögl (1899–1974), especially as the project fitted into the tourism concept of the municipality and the province, and Alsen subsequently agreed to take over the directorship of the Seespiele for an initial period of five years (with reference to possible competition with the Bregenz Festivals), stressing that the Seespiele in Mörbisch did not want to be a festival that would add to the excessive number of festival venues.[5]

After two years of preparation, the opening took place on 6 July 1957 with the operetta The Gypsy Baron by Johann Strauss II.[1]

The lake stage was built in a bay next to the Mörbisch bathing beach on many hundreds of piles according to the plans of architect Ferry Windberger (1915–2008), the designer of the first Bregenz lake stage. Its dimensions were 42 by 20 m; the auditorium, created by filling in the lake, contained 1,500[6][N 1] Seating capacity.[7] After an extension in 1959, 3000 people could be accommodated. Today the auditorium has over 6000 seats. In the following years, due to the great audience response, there were constant expansions, both in terms of the number of performances and the size of the auditorium and stage. From an initial six performances with about 7000 spectators (1957), the number increased to over 30 performances in July and August.

In 2006, a new sound system developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology and also in use at the Bregenz Festival was put into operation. This makes directional listening possible despite the size of the stage.[8][9] For several years the premiere of the Seefestspiele was broadcast by the ORF.[10] With the 2013 season, however, this practice was ended.

In 2018, specially staged performances for children were shown for the first time. A one-hour adaptation of Countess Mariza was shown in June 2018 on a stage set up on the festival grounds for a total of six performances. Up to 250 children were seated at each performance, and visitors were also given the opportunity to sing and dance along. The aim was to bring operetta closer to the children. The same soloists were on stage as in the regular performances.[11] As part of the Österreichischer Musiktheaterpreis 2020, the Seefestspiele received the prize for the best youth and children's musical theatre production for Land of Smiles for Children.[12]

Director of the Mörbisch Lake Festival since its foundation

  • 1957–1978: Herbert Alsen (intendant), Franziska Schurli (December 1919, 21 January 1984) (managing Director)
  • 1979–1980: Fred Liewehr (artistic director), Franziska Schurli (managing director)[13]
  • 1981–1983: Franziska Schurli (artistic director and managing director)[14]
  • 1984–1989: Robert Herzl (artistic director)[15] Heinrich Meyer (managing director)[16]
  • 1990–1992: Rudolf Buczolich (intendant),[17] Josef Wiedenhofer (managing director).
  • 1993–2012: Harald Serafin (artistic director), Dietmar Posteiner (managing director).
  • 2013–2017: Dagmar Schellenberger (artistic director), Dietmar Posteiner (managing director)
  • since 2018: Peter Edelmann.[18] (artistic director), Dietmar Posteiner (managing director), since 2021 additionally Alfons Haider as General Music Director of Burgenland.[19]

From 1995 to 2008, Rudolf Bibl was musical director, and was appointed honorary member of the festival in 2013.[20]

Performances, artists

Performances

With a total of twelve seasons, The Gypsy Baron is by far the most frequently performed operetta in Mörbisch.

Year Operetta / * Musical Composer Direction
1957[N 2] and 1958 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Fritz Diestel bzw. Erwin Euller
1958 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Fritz Diestel[21] bzw. Heinz Lambrecht[22]
1959 and 1960 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Ernst Pichler
1959 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Alfred Walter[23]
1960 Viktoria und ihr Husar Paul Abraham Kurt Pscherer
1961 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Pscherer
1962 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Karl Heinz Krahl
1963 Gasparone Carl Millöcker Otto Ambros
1964 Die lustige Witwe Franz Lehár Otto Fritz
1965 Die Blume von Hawaii Paul Abraham Otto Fritz
1966 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II András Mikó
1967 Venus in Seid Robert Stolz Karl Heinz Haberland
1968 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán András Mikó
1969 Der Bettelstudent Carl Millöcker Hermann Wedekind
1970 Die ungarische Hochzeit Nico Dostal Kurt Pscherer
1971 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Pscherer
1972 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Otto Fritz
1973 Viktoria und ihr Husar Paul Abraham Rolf Kutschera[24]
1974 Der Vogelhändler Carl Zeller Karl Dönch
1975 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II András Mikó
1976 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Karl Dönch
1977 Maske in Blau Fred Raymond Robert Herzl
1978 Die Zirkusprinzessin Emmerich Kálmán Robert Herzl
1979 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Pscherer
1980 Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II Kurt Pscherer
1981 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Glado von May
1982 Ein Walzertraum Oscar Straus Robert Herzl
1983 Die gold’ne Meisterin Edmund Eysler Robert Herzl
1984 Die Zirkusprinzessin Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Huemer
1985 Im weißen Rößl Ralph Benatzky Robert Herzl
1986 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Robert Herzl
1987 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Robert Herzl
1988 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Robert Herzl
1989 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Otto Fritz
1990 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Sándor Nemeth
1991 Sissi und Romy Roland Baumgartner Edwin Zbonek
1992 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Wilfried Steiner
1993 Die lustige Witwe Franz Lehár Michael Maurer
1994 Wiener Blut Johann Strauss II Alexander Waechter
1995 Der Bettelstudent Carl Millöcker Winfried Bauernfeind
1996 Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II Elmar Ottenthal
1997 Pariser Leben Jacques Offenbach Alain Marcel
1998 Der Vogelhändler Carl Zeller Winfried Bauernfeind
1999 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Helmuth Lohner
2000 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Heinz Marecek
2001 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Winfried Bauernfeind
2002 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Helmuth Lohner
2003 Giuditta Franz Lehár Gernot Friedel
2004 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Winfried Bauernfeind
2005 Die lustige Witwe Franz Lehár Helmuth Lohner
2006 Der Graf von Luxemburg Franz Lehár Dietmar Pflegerl
2007 Wiener Blut Johann Strauss II Maximilian Schell
2008 Im weißen Rößl Ralph Benatzky Karl Absenger
2009 My Fair Lady Frederick Loewe Helmuth Lohner
2010 Der Zarewitsch Franz Lehár Peter Lund
2011 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Brigitte Fassbaender
2012 Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II Helmuth Lohner
2013 Der Bettelstuden Carl Millöcker Ralf Nürnberger
2014 Anatevka Jerry Bock Karl Absenger
2015 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Karl Absenger
2016 Viktoria und ihr Husar Paul Abraham Andreas Gergen
2017 Der Vogelhändler Carl Zeller Axel Köhler
2018 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Karl Absenger
2019 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Leonard Prinsloo
2021 West Side Story Leonard Bernstein Werner Sobotka
2022 planned The King and I Richard Rodgers

The 2020 Festival had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. The production of West Side Story planned for 2020 was postponed to 2021. The stage decoration includes a 14 m high Statue of Liberty and the typical Manhattan brick buildings with fire escape, water elevator and neon advertising sign Nylon on the roof.[25][26]

Artists who have performed so far

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ↑ Also: The auditorium offers space for 1,800 visitors. – See Mörbisch am See: New centre of tourism. The new lakeside hotel nears completion – 6 July: Opening of the Seespiele – Sacrifice and idealism at work.(...) Seespiele in Mörbisch. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 27, no. 26, 1957, p. 3, column 3 centre.
  2. ↑ Of eight intended performances, two were cancelled due to bad weather. The performances began at 7 pm. The ticket prices were 10 Austrian shilling,- (0,73 Euro) to 50,- (3,63 Euro).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Neuer Abschnitt des burgenländischen Wirtschafts- und Kulturaufstieges eingleitet" [New stage of Burgenland's economic and cultural rise initiated]. Burgenländische Freiheit (in German). Vol. 27, no. 32. Eisenstadt. 11 August 1957. p. 6. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, p. 259.
  3. ↑ Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, p. 261.
  4. ↑ Freies Burgenland. Kommunistisches Wochenblatt No. 27/1957, 7 July 1957. Globus-Verlag, Vienna 1957, ZDB-ID 1307715-6, p. 9 From: Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, p. 261.
  5. ↑ Mörbisch am See: New centre of tourism. The new lakeside hotel nearing completion 6 July: Opening of the Seespiele - Sacrifice and idealism at work.(…) Die Seespiele. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 27, nr. 26, 1957, p. 3, column 1, bottom.
  6. ↑ 25 Jahre Seespiele Mörbisch. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 51, nr. 31, 1981, p. 35.
  7. ↑ Awecker et al: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, p. 263.
  8. ↑ Henning Köhler (Red.). In iuk.fraunhofer.de, 27 June 2006, retrieved 25 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Wolfgang Fritz retrieved from the Bregenz Festival page
  10. ↑ Andrea Rössner (Red.): Hohe Einschaltquoten bei ORF-Übertragung aus Mörbisch. In ots.at, 5 August 2001, retrieved 25 July 2021.
  11. ↑ orf.at: Erstmals Kinderoperette in Mörbisch. Article from 20 January 2018, retrieved on 20 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Musical Theatre Award honoured Placido Domingo". ORF.at. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Burgenländische Festspiele: Four venues - two artistic directors. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 49, no. 10, 1979, p. 45.
  14. ↑ Die Burgenländischen Festspiele stehen auf einer neuen Basis. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 50, nr. 47, 1980, p. 48.
  15. ↑ "Ernst Scherzer: Leben für die Operette: Grazer Regisseur Robert Herzl verstorben. In Kleine Zeitung, 25 November 2014". Kleine Zeitung. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Burgenland's influence on an even broader basis. A new festival era. Festival committees In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 54, nr. 13, 1984, p. 2, bottom right.
  17. ↑ Vorhang auf für's Nachfolgespiel. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 62, nr. 36, 1992, pp. 4f.
  18. ↑ orf.at: Seefestspiele: Edelmann instead of Pichowetz Article from 31 May 2017, retrieved 25 July 2021
  19. ↑ "Music Theatre: Alfons Haider becomes General Director". 16 December 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Rudolf Bibl first honorary member of Mörbisch. Article from 12 July 2013, retrieved 25 July 2021.
  21. ↑ Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, p. 267.
  22. ↑ Zweite Premiere in Mörbisch: Ein gelungenes Experiment. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 27, nr. 31, 1958, p. 2, top.
  23. ↑ Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, S. 356.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 „Viktoria und ihr Husar“ siegten über den Sturm und die Kälte. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 43, nr. 31, 1973, p. 21.
  25. ↑ "Burgenländischer Kultursommer abgesagt". ORF.at. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  26. ↑ Lake Festival with second largest Statue of Liberty orf.at, 28. Juni 2021, retrieved 26 July 2021.
  27. ↑ Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, S. 266.

Sources

Further reading

  • Eva Deissen (ed.): Mörbisch – ein Festival schreibt Operettengeschichte. Begleitmaterialien: CD. Echomedia-Verlag, Vienna 2007, ISBN 978-3-901761-62-1.
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