A ride of hell on the water: premiere of Wagner the flying Dutch!

A ride of hell on the water: premiere of Wagner the flying Dutch!

With an impressive event in the St. Margarethen quarry, the culture in Austria has reached a new highlight: On July 9, 2025, the opera "The Flying Dutch" by Richard Wagner celebrated its premiere. It is the first performance of a work by Wagner in this special location, and the anticipation is great. As orf Burgenland , director Philipp M. Krenn has developed a breathtaking concept in collaboration with stage designer Momme Hinrichs that brings the rough Norwegian lake to life with a ghost ship.

The romantic opera in three lifts tells the captivating story of an enchanted sailor who has to win the love of a pure woman. Richard Wagner brought this work to the premiere in 1843, and despite his shortness of about two and a half hours, it is a masterpiece that sweeps the audience. The technical staging is particularly remarkable: in addition to impressive effects, the ambience of the quarry should make the opera evening a unique experience.

a festival for the senses

Patrick Lange, an experienced German Maestro, is at the desk of the opera in the quarry for the first time. The musical direction promises to create an unforgettable evening. The costumes come from Eva Dessecker and give the figures additional liveliness. The stunt action presented by Ran Arthur Braun also provides exciting moments on stage.

director Daniel Serafin comments extremely optimistically about the success of the performance and compares him with the great audience success of "AIDA", who has attracted over 100,000 visitors. A total of 24 performances are planned, and the first reactions of the audience promise a magnificent summer for culture in the region. This combination of impressive ambience and classical music could also be a great opportunity for many newcomers in the Opera House to get enthusiastic about this art form.

The ambience of the quarry

The special thing about the staging in the St. Margarethen quarry is the symbiosis of nature and theater. Krenn describes the location as ideal because the natural backdrop harmonizes with the impressive representations of the opera. The stage will turn into a Norwegian fishing village, and a movable ship will give the dramatic elements of the performance an additional charm.

The combination of technical effects with rough nature will make the opera evening a spectacular event that no visitor will be forgotten so quickly. My district emphasizes that such unique events not only enrich the culture scene, but also attract visitors from near and far.

The anticipation for the performance is noticeable - artists, organizers and of course the audience are sure that "the flying Dutchman" in St. Margarethen will write an unforgettable place and an exciting chapter in the history of opera performances in Austria.