COULD IT BE? YES IT COULD!
The first line of the song “Something’s Coming” from the musical West Side Story couldn’t be more fitting, as the Bernstein-Werk ushered in a new era in the operetta El Dorado with its premiere at the Mörbischer Seefestspiele on July 8th. The Viennese Valerie Luksch shines in the title role and gives her Maria a magic vocal and acting that Leonard Bernstein would certainly be proud of. With Paul Schweinester at their side as authentic Tony, the cast creates a West Side Story vocally and vocally that meets all expectations. In particular, the dance performance is impressive against the background of an enormous backdrop, which appropriately reflects the flair of New York City of the 50s and fills it out perfectly. Alfons Haider, who has been general manager since the beginning of the year, feels touched anew every evening by the vocal performance of the cast. He is also impressed by the athletic performance: “When you consider the distances these dancers cover here every evening – that’s gigantic. This stage has 3600m2. I’m already tired when I have to go around the outside three times,” laughs Haider ,
Haider knew the great composer Leonard Bernstein personally. He vividly remembers one evening when they talked about the West Side Story. “Bernstein said to me: ‘You would be a perfect Tony’. I said no, told him I was only an interpreter. He said ‘Tony is sung with the heart’. That touched me.” The current line-up in Mörbisch lives up to exactly this demand from Bernstein: “Both of our Tonys, Paul Schweinester and Mark Roy Luykx, really sing this role with their hearts. And Bernstein composed with their hearts.”
In any case, the success of the premiere can be seen, according to the experienced director and musical performer: “The musical has finally arrived in Mörbisch.” The fact that a musical in the “Mecca of the operetta world” is so popular is also due to the style of the 1960s work, which blurs the boundaries between the two genres a little. The plot is rather heavy fare. “The West Side Story is by no means a lovely piece, it is also partly a tough rock musical. That it goes down so well with our audience is a gift – for Bernstein and for me as artistic director – and has 100% encouraged me in my plan to continue doing musicals in Mörbisch. “
To drive the operetta completely from the festival is by no means the goal – on the contrary. Operetta productions as part of the Jennersdorf Summer Festival at Tabor Castle, at which “The Merry Widow” was staged this season and for which Haider is also responsible as General Director, are to be expanded and promoted if there is sufficient demand. Haider is certain that the audience will be just as enthusiastic about the planned musical productions in Mörbisch. Like the West Side Story, the piece “The King and I” planned for 2022 combines the most beautiful elements of both genres; Stylistically, for example, one hardly hears any differences to works by Lehar, it is a “modern operetta”. The organizers’ visions of the future were also decisive for the decision to bring the piece West Side Story to Mörbisch. The future and the young audience must also be thought of: “It is not good not to change anything for decades.” Already in the first evenings it became apparent how many young people could be attracted by the musical genre. “Mörbisch is not an altar, but a stage that can play anything.” He is also grateful to his colleague, the artistic director Peter Edelmann, who, as a declared operetta professional, opened the doors to the West Side Story despite everything.
THE VISION
Since taking office at the beginning of the year, Alfons Haider has been largely responsible for the future-oriented development of the festival and the implementation of corresponding visions. Nevertheless, at this point – due to the pandemic – the question inevitably arises: How do you plan a festival summer that you don’t know whether it can take place? With a willingness to take risks. “We plunged completely into the planning and the application. The fact that I was new to it definitely had a positive effect on the whole thing. We noticed a great deal of interest and we acted accordingly. We are in the Advertising campaign went as if nothing had happened. It wouldn’t have worked otherwise. ” A cancellation would have been economically catastrophic. “It was risky, but it worked.”
It is “no coincidence” for Haider that he was awarded the position of general manager. His professional and emotional connection to this place is too great. At the age of 17 he was already on stage here as an extra. A particularly emotional memory: on the day of his father’s funeral, young Alfons made his first appearance and stood in for a colleague on the evening of the premiere. In Mörbisch they were so impressed by his dedication that he was promised a small speaking role for the next season. His reaction to the offer: “Please don’t be angry with me, but when I come back I want to be in the front row.” Memories that will last a lifetime. “Mörbisch has always had a tremendous attraction for me. And when I stood there last December, it really flashed me. There are no coincidences. There must be a reason why this place has always magically attracted me. That is one the most important and greatest tasks of my life. “
Haider’s duties also include promoting young talent in operettas and musicals. He succeeded particularly well in the production of “The Merry Widow” at Ende Tabor. “The original soloists jumped out due to the pandemic. I filled these roles at a very young age. I was reminded of a theatrical moment 10 years ago – back then I was sitting in a performance of the merry widow, and behind me a girl said to her grandmother, ‘But that’s it the grandma of the merry widow, right? ‘ The colleague at the time was well over 60, although it is about a young widow. Now we have the 28-year-old, beautiful soprano Svenja Isabella Kallweit. Casting so young sets an example. That is also my job, that I am in Burgenland culture Bring a little more life and drive into it. In the end, both festival locations are magical in themselves and an experience for everyone with a fantasy and who wants to make a difference. “
Whether with “West Side Story” in Mörbisch or with “The Merry Widow” in Jennersdorf: the feeling and the dedication from the artistic director to the ensemble can be felt – and it hits the audience directly.
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