Operetta for everyone: Bernreitner brings exoticism and power games to Vienna!

Operetta for everyone: Bernreitner brings exoticism and power games to Vienna!

In recent years, the operetta in Vienna has developed into an exciting topic that is linked to the roots of the 1920s and 1930s. Anna Bernreitner, an innovative director, goes into depth with her latest work "Indigo" and illuminates complex topics such as greed for power and its consequences. The courier reports on Bernreitner's unconventional approach to reach the audience, especially those who can do little with the opera. Your clear goal: "to make operations and operettas accessible to everyone" if the stories are told convincingly.

The piece "Indigo" plays on an exotic island, where a Viennese lovers meet a narcissistic king. Bernreitner draws a parallel between the roles of "donkeys" and "donkey drivers" and packs political tendencies into an abstract framework. Their approaches are brave: whether in the earlier staging of "The kidnapping from the Serail" in the boxer milieu or "Tosca" as a political thriller-every performance is a new risk and adventure for Bernreitner.

A look back: operetta and their roots

The operetta "The world is beautiful" addresses the attitude to life of the 1920s and early 1930s. Featuring rhythms and jazz music are presented there, paired with stories of love, leisure activities and the influence of society at that time. This music version lives from the compositions of Paul Abraham, Alfred Grünwalds and Fritz Löhner. Many of the artists of this era came from Austria, often with Jewish roots. However, the National Socialists' seizure of power led to an abrupt end of their world.

The director Anna Bernreitner has set itself the goal of reviving the music and texts of this eventful era and bringing them to the stage. In this regard, the performance of "Beautiful is the world" should represent a kind of resurrection of the operetta culture at that time. Her commitment aims to reach a wide audience and to beat a bridge between the past and the present.

opera and their political dimension

The role of the opera and operetta in the political landscape is a fascinating topic that is also illuminated by Giuseppe Verdi's history. In the essay "The Opera, Masses and Politics" it becomes clear how Verdi and his works played a central role in Italian society in the 19th century. Mussolini used Verdi's popularity to promote his political agenda, similar to the opera was used as a means of mobilization and identity foundation. Such historical references show that today's operetta is no longer just entertainment, but reflects the power structures and their effects on society.

With upcoming projects, including "Die Batraus" from December 7, 2025 in the Opera House Zurich and "The Fairy Queen" in an indoor version in St. Gallen from February 2026, Bernreitner shows that she would like to continue to provide a fresh air in the opera area in the future. Her work testifies to a tireless striving to make the operetta accessible to everyone, while at the same time she does not lose sight of the political and social dimension.

It remains exciting to observe how this direction will develop and whether Bernreitner's vision of presenting the operetta and operetta as an accessible art form will continue to be found.