Culture
Georges Bizet’s work should have been shown in 2020, the pandemic got in the way. From July 14th to August 6th “Carmen” will now be performed in the Waldviertel, with Ljubica Vraneš playing the leading role.
Finally – one might say – “Carmen” makes it onto the stage of Burg Gars, as the performance had already been planned for the past two years, 2020 and 2021. However, the coronavirus pandemic thwarted this plan. The play, directed by Dominik Wilgenbus, will be shown this summer until August 6th.
Director Johannes Wildner looked back on an unusually long period of preparation, which offered opportunities but also challenges. Keeping an opera ensemble together in this way is “a feat of strength”. Above all, the artistic conception has changed since planning began.
A different “Carmen” than before the pandemic
“During the preparations in autumn 2019, we had a completely different perspective than six months later at the beginning of the pandemic, which suddenly confronted us with a completely new feeling for problems. And recently came the Ukraine war, which fundamentally changed our perspective, among other things with regard to military power as a deadly element of the conflict, and raised countless questions,” emphasized Wildner.
After two years of restrictions due to the corona virus, “opera is now being offered in its most rousing form”, the artistic director looked ahead. In addition to a large choir and orchestra as well as “outstanding soloists”, they come up with “a spectacular firework display”.
Ljubica Vraneš was won for the title role. The mezzo-soprano has been a member of the ensemble at the National Theater in Belgrade since 2011. The role of Don José will be interpreted by Oscar Marin, who is already well known in Gars. The Spanish tenor has performed on various stages with partners such as Karan Armstrong and Agnes Baltsa.
