Gars am Kamp (OTS) – Closing period: Sun, July 14th, 4 p.m
With his personal dream cast, Clemens Unterreiner made his debut as director of the opera BURG GARS on July 13th. During Donizetti’s opera hit “L’elisir d’amore” – “The Love Potion”, which was on the program for the first time, the breathtaking natural backdrop of Gars Castle became the scene of pure Italian joie de vivre. Under the star direction of Carolin Pienkos and Cornelius Obonya and under the fast-paced musical direction of Levente Török, the international audience favorites Maria Nazarova, Paolo Rumetz and Orhan Yildiz shone on stage together with the Austrian shooting stars Martha Matscheko and Matteo Ivan Rašić.
For the first year of his directorship, Clemens Unterreiner has selected Doniztetti’s bel canto masterpiece “The Love Potion”, which has never been performed in Gars – an irresistible love story full of passion, humor and a happy ending. With the words “Let’s OPERA! Enjoy opera for all the senses with us at Austria’s largest unamplified open-air opera festival.”
welcomed Neo-Intendant Clemens Unterreiner its premiere audience on July 13th. Numerous prominent guests from politics, business, sport and culture accepted his invitation – especially State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who ensured an atmospheric festival opening. Also Federal Minister Alma Zadić, BM. retired Werner Fasslabend, Ombudsman Walter Rosenkranz, State Councilor (Lower Austria) Susanne Rosenkranz, State Parliament President (Vienna) Ernst Woller, State Councilor (Burgenland) Daniela Winkler, District Captain (Horn) Stefan Grusch, Mayor (Gars am Kamp) Martin Falk as well as Daniela Fally, Christa Kummer , Vera Russwurm, Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer, Peter Coeln, Gery Keszler, Ingrid Wendl and many other well-known personalities enjoyed Donizetti’s summer opera in the middle of the romantic Babenberg Castle.
On the Waldviertel opera stage, the ensemble consisting of international stars and up-and-coming artists from Austria impressed with great voices and immense joy in playing under the direction of Carolin Pienkos and Cornelius Obonya. “The love story about Adina and Nemorino, who ultimately find each other through true love despite all the adverse circumstances, can be told practically anywhere and at any time. But we can hardly imagine a better place than Gars Castle to depict this action. The natural backdrop is incredibly inspiring and can stimulate the audience’s imagination in a special way.”
rave Carolin Pienkos & Cornelius Obonya.
Star soprano Maria Nazarova as Adina and the young Austrian tenor Matteo Ivan Rašić – in his role debut as Nemorino – captivated the audience as the opera’s dream couple. “I have already had the opportunity to interpret the role of Adina at several leading opera houses. Here, in this wonderful natural arena, together with such great colleagues, this complex role in particular is simply pure enjoyment.”
, shows up Maria Nazarova enthusiastic. This also closes Matteo Ivan Rašić and adds: “There couldn’t have been a better place for my debut as Nemorino than in Clemens Unterreiner’s new opera BURG GARS in front of such an enthusiastic open-air opera audience.”
In the role of Dulcamara Paolo Rumetz, an Italian crowd favorite par excellence, shone. Turkish baritone Orhan Yildiz gave a spirited one Belcore. If Giannetta convinced the highly talented young soprano Martha Matscheko from Upper Austria. With the necessary sensitivity and a lot of esprit, the aspiring conductor Levente Török, who will take over the artistic direction of the Miskolc Symphony Orchestra in Hungary in the coming season, led the orchestra of the opera BURG GARS in the newly built orchestra house. “This modern wooden structure harmonizes perfectly with the unique natural backdrop of the castle and ensures a real leap in quality in the acoustic conditions of this festival”
emphasized Levente is Turkish.
The sold-out auditorium with 1,300 seats rewarded the brilliant premiere performance with great enthusiasm and long-lasting final applause. The premiere evening was then celebrated extensively on the festival lawn. Wine lover Clemens Unterreiner, his team and his guests also tasted the two editions of the opera wine – “Adina” and “Nemorino” – as well as the specially created love potion cocktail. “With this fantastic opening evening, the opera BURG GARS has had a fantastic new start”
, was happy about it Mayor Martin Falk.“I am overjoyed that my first production in Gars has become the love potion the hearts hoped for! Donizetti’s summer opera romance with a dream cast and an orchestra house that enables a completely new level of quality in terms of acoustics – opera enthusiasts shouldn’t miss all of this until August 3rd.”
so Intendant Clemens Unterreiner.
Dates and tickets: www.operburggars.at
Senenfotos as well as Company photos the premiere can be found at: https://operburggars.at/presse/ for free download. Photo credit: © Alexander Ch. Wulz
Please note the embargo period: Sunday, July 14, 2024, 4 p.m
Questions & Contact:
OPER BURG GARS GmbH, Hauptplatz 80, 3571 Gars am Kamp, https://operburggars.at/presse/