Michael H. Hardern
Operetta Research Center
17 June, 2015
It’s summertime, and of course that means that the out-door operetta season is taking off in Europe. One of the historically most interesting venues for out-door spectacles is the “Sommer Arena” in Baden. It opens on Saturday with (hold your breath): Die Fledermaus.
Poster for “Hairspray” at the Stadttheater Baden 2015. (Photo: Bühne Baden)
Admittedly, that’s not a particularly inspired choice. But many people believe the story of the Eisensteins actually takes place in Baden-near-Vienna, even though the libretto says it all happens “in a small place outside a German town.” But never mind.
The first night is on June 19, and the productions runs till 3 September. A rarer title is Leo Fall’s Der fidele Bauer which opens on June 10 and runs until 4 September. Apart from operetta, the Sommer Area program will also offer Bunbury – but not the Natschinski musicalized version, but the Oscar Wilde original (The Importance of Being Earnest). Add to that a “younger” piece such as Hairspray, playing at the equally historic Stadttheater from 31 Juli until 5 September, and you have a very varied summer entertainment cocktail.
For further details, casts and performance dates, click here.