ORF’s Summer Stage showcases Tirol’s diverse cultural scene

ORF’s “Summer Stage” is travelling across Tirol this summer, presenting the region’s cultural life at festivals and venues ranging from large stages to unexpected locations, ORF reports. The programme covers theatre, classical music, open-air productions, contemporary art and subculture.

It focuses on the people who make culture possible across Tirol, including artists, committed amateurs, organisers and audiences.

At the Telfs Folk Theatre, “Feuernacht” explores the history of the so-called South Tyrolean “Bumsa”, based on a work by Felix Mitterer and directed artistically by Gregor Bloéb. The Geierwally Open-Air Stage in Elbigenalp is presenting “Schwabenkinder”. In Innervillgraten, the second high-culture festival brought together the Musicbanda Franui and actor Nicholas Ofczarek for “Holzfällen”, loosely based on Thomas Bernhard. About 7,000 people attended.

The programme also highlights smaller and unexpected venues. During the three-week Medienfrische art festival, the small hamlet of Boden in the municipality of Pfafflar becomes a meeting place for international art, music and encounters. The population of the 20-person village triples during the festival.

In Innsbruck, the Bogenfest focuses on subculture, with about 50,000 visitors attending performances across six stages featuring DJs, techno, rock and live music. Acts include Amadeus Music Award winner Nenda and the dialect rappers Von Seiten der Gemeinde.

Classical music is represented by the young InnStrumenti chamber orchestra at Innsbruck’s Hofburg. The Innsbruck Promenade Concerts range from Viennese classicism to contemporary works.

“Summer Stage. Tirol: Places full of culture and life” will be broadcast on ORF 2 on Saturday, August 22, at 5.55pm.