Wiener Blut premieres to applause at Schloss Tabor

Johann Strauss’s operetta Wiener Blut premiered at Schloss Tabor, a castle, on Wednesday evening, drawing strong applause for its music and comic story of love, infidelity and marital disputes, ORF reported.

The operetta is one of the most popular works of its kind, although it was assembled from existing compositions by Strauss only after his death. At Schloss Tabor, the production combines its music with Viennese charm and humour.

The Junge Philharmonie Brandenburg orchestra, conducted by Peter Sommerer, performed Strauss’s melodies with energy and atmosphere. The entire ensemble was praised for its singing, acting and dancing.

Audiences responded warmly to Michael Heim as the unfaithful Count Zedlau, Christian Tschelebiew as Ypsheim-Gindelbach, Verena Barth Jurca as Pepi and Horst Lamnek as a Viennese original. Soprano Friederike Meinke was particularly outstanding as Countess Zedlau.

The original story is set during the Congress of Vienna. Director Rita Sereinig has moved the action to the present day, with the setting changed from Vienna to the cruise ship MS Wiener Blut. The adaptation prompted many laughs and sustained applause.

Following the premiere, Wiener Blut will be performed 10 more times at Schloss Tabor, through August 16.