CULTURE
The rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” can be experienced at the Hartberg Musical Festival. At the premiere there was a woman as the messiah, which was not actually intended.
Shipment note: “Styria today”; 17.7.2022
A certain, still unknown Andrew Lloyd Webber had his breakthrough in the 1970s with the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Today the Brit is probably the most successful musical composer of all time. The ensemble of the “Hartberg Musical Festival” proves that his musical narrative regarding the last days of Jesus Christ can still be relevant today or even ahead of its time.
“It might be prophetic”
A few days ago, nobody in the ensemble might have guessed how modern the premiere would be. Director Julia Petrovitz sang the role of Jesus yesterday due to the main actor being absent due to illness. A woman as messiah. “It feels very special to play his role. We can be a bit proud of that in Hartberg,” says Petrovitz.
“This might be prophetic for the churches. It would be a huge chance and opportunity if the church might tie in and women might lead parishes and celebrate services,” said the Hartberg pastor, Josef Reisenhofer.
Music that gets under your skin
70 professionals and amateurs from the region prove in the beautiful courtyard that Jesus can also be a modern blockbuster – with catchy tune quality.
“The music really gets under the skin of the young people and will also get under the skin of the audience,” says Artistic Director Alois Lugitsch. “It’s an honor for me to play here, everyone feels the same way,” said Philipp Faustmann, who plays Judas.
Not out of time
“Taking a story that almost everyone in the world knows and turning it into a rock opera is something very special in itself,” said Marie-Theres Villgratter; she plays Maria Magdalena. “It’s also important for us to show that a story like this doesn’t fall out of time,” says Petrovitz. The Hartberg Musical Festival shines with “Jesus Christ Superstar” until July 29 – from July 21 once more with the original cast.
