The traditional opera-ball at the Vienna State Opera is over, at least for this year. The one at the Vienna Volksoper, however, can be first attended on February 17 and then another ten times at the same venue until end of March. In this context we are talking about Richard Heuberger’s greatest operetta-success including the catchy tune “At the chambre separée”. The golden era of Viennese operetta which was ruled by Franz von Suppé, Johann Strauß and Carl Millöcker, received another special highlight with Heuberger’s The Opera-Ball (Der Opernball) in 1898.

New-productions of operettas from the golden era are usually in Alfred Eschwé’s competent hands at the Vienna Volksoper, even though his almost unrivalled repertory in opera and operetta surpasses any limit. An expert maestro is urgently requested at the conductor’s desk for Der Opernball anyway! Already with the famous overture the orchestra is on delicate trial. Eschwé rehearsed the operetta with all its waltzes, mazurkas, gallops and cotillions applying French scent and esprit, although the original setting of Paris is transferred to the suburban Vienna in this production.

The vocal soloists of the opening-night appear under Kristiane Kaiser’s lead as Angelika Wimmer (Angèle Aubier in the original version); she will also perform this role in the subsequent performances on February 23 and March 4, 7, 11 and 18, 2018.

An excerpt from the overture can be found among the audio-clips on this homepage: Link

Further details concerning the Vienna Volksoper new-production: Link