News

Bregenz Festival 2002

10 June 2002

La Bohème on the world’s biggest floating stage: "Connoisseur-direction with three stars" Since starting out in 1946 aboard two gravel-barges moored at the lakeside, the Bregenz Festival has gone on to become one of the highlights of the international music festival scene. Each year in the summer months of July and August, up to 200,000 opera-lovers throng to Lake Constance to experience the incomparable atmosphere of music theatre under the stars. The spectacle starts as soon as you set foot in the open-air arena: ships are berthed close by the largest floating stage in the world, as the sun sets over the lake - and the show can begin. On a stage dominated by three gigantic bistro tables constructed on the shore, the Bregenz Festival is presenting Giacomo Puccini’s ever-popular opera La Bohème: the timeless tale of the dreams and emotions of a group of young artists in Paris. When it opened last season the production was a runaway success with audiences and was hailed by critics from all over the world: “Perfect choreography and connoisseur-direction with three stars: a must-see!” and “a colossal event” were some of the enthusiastic responses of the international press. The Bregenz production of this classic opera of love, passion and devotion premieres on 18 July 2002 and runs for a further 23 performances. With its production of Bohuslav Martinu’s opera Julietta in the Festival Opera House in the coming season, the Bregenz Festival is continuing its acclaimed policy of rediscovering rarely played or unjustly forgotten jewels of the operatic repertoire. After staging the world premiere of the “London version” of The Greek Passion in the 1999 season, the Bregenz Festival has chosen the second central work of this Czech composer as the Festival Opera House production of 2002. In a production by Katja Czellnik with sets designed by Vera Bonsen, Julietta will be receiving its first staged performance in Austria. The premiere is scheduled for 17 July 2002. The programme of the 2002 Bregenz Festival also comprises orchestral concerts with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and renowned guest orchestras, the contemporary theatre, film, musical and chamber music programme Kunst aus der Zeit, and open-air theatre and serenades on Martinsplatz square. The Bregenz Festival 2002 runs from July 18 to August 18.