Reaching out to new audiences

For all of us who work in the performing arts, life without concerts, theatre performances, or operas is unthinkable. But if we take even a brief look outside our bubble, we see that this is not the case for most people.

At every theatre, in every orchestra, much thought is being given and many activities are undertaken to, as they say, "reach new audiences." New formats are being developed; some work well, others less so. Either way, it is amazing to see all that is being done. What I have noticed is that whenever we succeed in sparking curiosity, dispelling misunderstandings, breaking down barriers, and thus enticing new audiences to engage with art and culture — there are always exceptional people behind it, people who are masters of their craft, extremely knowledgeable, and brimming with enthusiasm!

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Opera Directing Duo Carolin Pienkos and Cornelius Obonya Join Esther Schollum Artistsʼ Management

We are delighted to announce our collaboration with the directing team Carolin Pienkos and Cornelius Obonya. Their productions have been highly successful at venues including La Scala in Milan (“The Bat”), the St. Margarethen Opera Festival (“The Magic Flute”), and most recently at the Opera Burg Gars (“Lʼelisir dʼamore”). Their credo is to remain faithful to the original intent of the operas entrusted to them while simultaneously establishing a connection to the present day.

Oliver Sailer as Pistola in Innsbruck

Having already impressed in the roles of Colline and Sarastro, the Austrian bass Oliver Sailer now begins his fourth season as a company member at the Tyrolean State Theatre Innsbruck, portraying Pistola in Verdiʼs “Falstaff”.

Tyrolean State Theatre Innsbruck

Giuseppe Verdi: “Falstaff”
Oliver Sailer: Pistola
Oct 5 (premiere), 10, 13, 20, 24, 30; Nov 8, 14, 17, 24; Dec 6, 27.

Dénise Beck as Elvira in “Lʼitaliana in Algeri” at the Swedish Norrlandsoperan

The Danish soprano Dénise Beck returns to the Norrlandsoperan in Umeå where she previously shone in all four female roles (Stella, Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta) in Jacques Offenbachʼs “Les Contes dʼHoffmann.” This time, she will be seen as Elvira in Gioachino Rossini's “Lʼitaliana in Algeri”.

Norrlandsoperan, Umeå, Sweden

Gioachino Rossini: “Lʼitaliana in Algeri”
Dénise Beck: Elvira
Oct 5 (premiere), 8, 12, 19, 20, 25, 26.

Wolfgang Resch in Dusapinʼs “Passion” in Vienna

The Austrian baritone Wolfgang Resch, expert in and for contemporary music, will appear in the New Opera Viennaʼs new production of Pascal Dusapinʼs opera “Passion”, first performed in Aix-en-Provence in 2008. This opera, which the English newspaper The Guardian ranked among the top fifteen musical works of the 21st century, explores the relationship between Him (Lui) and Her (Lei), straddling the line between passion and obsession.

New Opera Vienna

Pascal Dusapin: “Passion”
Venue: MuTh Vienna
Wolfgang Resch: Lui
Oct 10 (premiere), 13, 15, 17.

Nora Sourouzian as Madame de Croissy in “Dialogues des Carmélites” in Braunschweig

Following her outstanding success as Azucena in Verdiʼs “Il trovatore” at the 2024 Burgplatz Open Air in Braunschweig, Nora Sourouzian shows a different side, portraying Madame de Croissy, the Prioress of the Carmelite Convent of Compiègne, in Francis Poulencʼs “Dialogues des Carmélites”, again at the State Theatre Braunschweig.

State Theatre Braunschweig

Francis Poulenc: “Dialogues des Carmélites”
Nora Sourouzian: Madame de Croissy, Prioress
2024: Oct 12 (premiere), 16, 27, 31; Nov 15; Dec 1, 27. 2025: Jan 7, 17, 26.

Sophie Rennert as Carmen at the Gärtnerplatz Theatre

The Austrian mezzo-soprano Sophie Rennert, recently nominated for the Austrian Music Theatre Award in the Best Female Lead category for her portrayal of the title role in Vivaldiʼs “Juditha triumphans” at the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, is known for her wide-ranging repertoire. Under the musical direction of Rubén Dubrovsky and directed by Herbert Föttinger, she now makes her role debut as Carmen in Georges Bizetʼs eponymous opera.

Gärtnerplatz State Theatre, Munich

Georges Bizet: “Carmen”
Sophie Rennert: Carmen
2024: Oct 18 (premiere), 24; Nov 22, 30; Dec 22. 2025: Mar 3.

Katleho Mokhoabane as Jaquino in the Revival of Beethovenʼs “Fidelio”

For his portrayal of Pisandro in Monteverdiʼs “Il ritorno dʼUlisse in patria” at the Vienna State Opera, South African tenor Katleho Mokhoabane was nominated for the Austrian Music Theatre Award in the Best Male Newcomer category. As a member of the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden ensemble, he now appears on stage in the revival of Beethovenʼs “Fidelio” as Jaquino. He will also present another facet of his versatile talent with a Lieder Soirée, alongside soprano Sara Yang, in the Foyer of the Great Hall for the Wiesbaden audience.

Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Ludwig van Beethoven: “Fidelio”
Katleho Mokhoabane: Jaquino
2024: Oct 19 (revival), 17; Nov 2, 9, 24; Dec 1. 2025: May 4.

Lieder Soirée Katleho Mokhoabane & Sara Yang
Katleho Mokhoabane, tenor
Sara Yang, soprano
Foyer Great Hall
Oct 21.

Thomas Lichtenecker Shares New Stories about Mr. Haydn

Accompanied by pianist Peter Frisée, Austrian countertenor Thomas Lichtenecker will present “The New Secrets of Mr. Haydn” at Haydn's birthplace in Rohrau. They will follow the trail of an extraordinary artistic relationship that began with Haydnʼs escape from the notorious “little knife” and spanned more than fifty years. A carefully selected repertoire of musical gems will highlight Haydn's boundless talent.

Rohrau, Haydn Birthplace

The New Secrets of Mr. Haydn (by Dominik Wilgenbus)
Thomas Lichtenecker, Countertenor
Peter Frisée, Narrator and Pianist
Oct 20.

Sophie Gordeladze as Giovanna dʼArco in Malta

Following her highly successful role debut two years ago at the Heidenheim Opera Festival in the title role of Giuseppe Verdiʼs “Giovanna dʼArco”, which has now been released on Blu-Ray, Georgian soprano Sophie Gordeladze returns to the role at the Teatru Astra opera house on the Maltese island of Gozo, in a production directed by Enrico Stinchelli and conducted by John Galea.

Teatru Astra, Victoria, Gozo, Malta

Giuseppe Verdi: Giovanna dʼArco
Sophie Gordeladze: Giovanna dʼArco
Oct 24, 26.

Wolfgang Stefan Schwaiger in Antwerp

Following his successful guest appearance as Falke in “The Bat” last year, Tyrolean baritone Wolfgang Stefan Schwaiger has been re-invited by Opera Ballet Vlaanderen to take on the role of Thaos in Christoph Willibald Gluckʼs “Iphigénie en Tauride”, in a production directed by Rafael R. Villalobos and conducted by Benjamin Bayl.

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen

Christoph Willibald Gluck: “Iphigénie en Tauride”
Wolfgang Stefan Schwaiger: Thaos
Oct 25 (premiere), 17, 29, 31; Nov 2, 5.

Johannes Wildner with the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra in Graz and Vienna

It has become a tradition for the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra to perform under the direction of Johannes Wildner on the Austrian National Day in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. This time, the renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo will join them on stage to sing, among other pieces, the Csárdás from “The Bat” and the waltz “Where the Lemon Trees Blossom.”

The orchestra, Sumi Jo, and Johannes Wildner will also offer this programme on the eve of Austriaʼs National Day, at the Stefaniensaal in Graz.

Congress/Stefaniensaal Graz

Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra
Sumi Jo, Soprano
Johannes Wildner, Conductor
Oct 25.

Vienna Musikverein, Golden Hall

Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra
Sumi Jo, Soprano
Johannes Wildner, Conductor
Oct 26.

Jon Svinghammar Conducts the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Lower Austria

Following several successful collaborations, Swedish conductor Jon Svinghammar has been re-invited to lead the autumn concert of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Lower Austria. The program, presented in the Ybbsfeldhalle in Blindenmarkt, covers a wide range from Verdi to Dvořák, Smetana, Bizet, and Johann and Josef Strauss.

Ybbsfeldhalle Blindenmarkt, Lower Austria

Youth Symphony Orchestra of Lower Austria
Jon Svinghammar, Conductor
Oct 26.

Katharina Ruckgaber in Gerd Kührʼs “Stallerhof” in Klagenfurt

German soprano Katharina Ruckgaber was recently celebrated at the Bregenz Festival for her role as Ännchen in Carl Maria von Weberʼs “Der Freischütz”, a production by Philipp Stölzl conducted by Enrique Mazzola, now available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Starting in late October, she will present a rather different facet of her talent at the Klagenfurter Stadttheater: in the female lead role of Beppi in Gerd Kührʼs opera “Stallerhof”, first premiered in 1988, based on Franz Xaver Kroetzʼs play of the same name. The work addresses, with unflinching honesty, silence in rural communities, social constraints, and the unbridled yearning for love of the unloved individual.

Klagenfurter Stadttheater

Gerd Kühr: “Stallerhof”
Katharina Ruckgaber: Beppi
Oct 31 (premiere); Nov 8, 14, 19, 22, 27, 30; Dec 4, 6.