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© Oper Im Steinbruch
The Flying Dutchman
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 December 2026 | ||||||
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The grand opera about love's immortality
Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs - a secret, impossible love: the slave Aida and the military commander Radamès yearn to spend their lives together, and it is not only their unequal status that prevents them. The pharaoh’s passionate daughter Amneris also has eyes for the dapper captain and suspects her shy servant to be her rival.
With 'Aida', Giuseppe Verdi fashioned a great opera about the immortality of love. Large and grandiose crowd scenes are contrasted with passionate, almost chamber-like episodes in which the longings and conflicts of the characters are beguilingly expressed by the music.
Synopsis
Egypt in the time of the pharaohs - a secret, impossible love: the servant Aida and the captain Radames want to spend their lives together, which is not only prevented by their unequal status. The pharaoh's daughter Amneris also has her eye on the handsome captain. And nobody realises that Aida is the imprisoned princess of Ethiopia. When Radames leads the Egyptians into the decisive battle against their fatherland, Aida is faced with an irresolvable conflict of conscience ...
With ‘Aida’, Giuseppe Verdi created a work that is considered by many to be the epitome of Italian opera. Magnificent mass scenes are juxtaposed with almost chamber drama-like moments in which the characters' longings and conflicts become a beguiling sound experience. Mystical incantations in the temple, nocturnal encounters on the banks of the Nile or a glittering triumphal march: Verdi strikes exactly the right rousing note for every mood. With the lyrical arias of Aida, Radame's dreamy romance ‘Holde Aida’ or the opulent Triumphal March, he created immortal earworms and highlights of musical and psychological design.
With its complexity between pomp and chamber drama, ‘Aida’ harmonises in a fascinating way with the unique rocky landscape of the St. Margarethen quarry. Thaddeus Strassberger, who already staged an acclaimed ‘Turandot’ here in 2021, is bringing Verdi's masterpiece to the stage this summer.
Program and cast
Römersteinbruch Sankt Margarethen
The Festival arena in the Römersteinbruch St. Margarethen is Europe's biggest natural stage. The open-air concert hall has an area of 7,000 square metres, with space for 4,670 people. Its unique acoustics and its special atmosphere alone make it the perfect place to experience the thrilling world of opera. The impressive setting arouses emotions that go beyond the confines of music.
Unforgettable experience
The monumental rockface, the unique acoustics and the special climate and the fauna and flora all contribute to an unforgettable evening at the opera. The Festival arena in the Roman quarry arouses emotions, creates tension and brings people closer. An exclusive location that our audiences return to time after time.
The St. Margarethen Opera Festival is about 70 km from Vienna.
From Vienna
• A2 towards Graz
• At the Guntramsdorf intersection switch to the A3 towards Eisenstadt / Neusiedler See
• Take the Eisenstadt Süd exit, then turn right on to the B52 going towards St. Margarethen
• At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow the road
• At the roundabout at the far end of St. Margarethen, take the second exit
• You'll see a green sign marked "Festspielgelände": turn left, park the car and enjoy your evening!
From Graz
• A2 towards Vienna
• At the Wiener Neustadt intersection switch to the S4 towards Eisenstadt / Mattersburg
• At the Mattersburg intersection switch to the S31 towards Eisenstadt / Sopron
• Take the Eisenstadt Süd exit, then turn right on to the B52 going towards St. Margarethen
• At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow the road
• At the roundabout at the far end of St. Margarethen, take the second exit
• You'll see a green sign marked "Festspielgelände": turn left, park the car and enjoy your evening!
From Linz
• At the Steinhäusl intersection, switch to the A21 towards Wien Süd / Graz
• At the Vösendorf intersection, switch to the A2 towards Eisenstadt / Graz wechseln
• At the Guntramsdorf intersection, switch to the A3 towards Eisenstadt / Neusiedler See
• Take the Eisenstadt Süd exit, then turn right on to the B52 going towards St. Margarethen
• At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow the road
• At the roundabout at the far end of St. Margarethen, take the second exit
• You'll see a green sign marked "Festspielgelände": turn left, park the car and enjoy your evening!
There are plenty of parking spaces available at no charge on the Festival site!
Experience stone quarry
Since 1996, the stone quarry of St. Margarethen has been a meeting place for international opera friends in Europe. The location at the center of a historically significant cultural landscape promises a journey into unique worlds of experience.
With the quality claim to offer popular and high-quality opera productions, the opera in the Steinbruch is the same attraction for an enthusiastic audience as well as for international opera stars and musicians.
Under the private foundation Esterházy as owner, this location experienced a comprehensive expansion in 2006. The young, international architectural group AWG from Vienna has understood this with a sense of sensitivity to give the sensitive space a very exciting architecture.
Festival Area
The Steinbruch in St. Margarethen is one of the most beautiful and imposing open-air arenas in Europe, with two stages of unique atmosphere and acoustics: the main stage with 7,000 m2, a huge open-air concert hall with almost 5,000 spectator seats and the Ruffini stage with up to 2,300 seats . It was named after Romulo Ruffini, the head of Prince Esterházy's stone quarry.
A modern infrastructure provides you with numerous amenities during your visit to the Opera in the Steinbruch. The access to the quarry through a spacious ramp provides a special experience: wonderful views of the landscape surrounding the quarry, as well as a first glimpse into the cultural experience to be expected. From here, visitors can already take a look at the stage (s), the opera lounge, the rocky crags and the lively activity before a wonderful opera performance.
Gastronomy
Opernlounge
An evening at the Opernlounge in the Steinbruch St. Margarethen is an experience for all senses! Here, a stylish stage for undisturbed receptions, private jubilees as well as representative events with friends or business partners is offered. Our catering partner serves delicious delicacies and fine wines. Bookable for small groups from 2 persons or companies up to 200 persons.
Gastronomy in the foyer
In the large foyer park international specialties and regional delicacies are served. Enjoy the culinary pleasures before the performance and during the break, be it small snacks or hot dishes and sweet delicacies for coffee. The special offer is rounded off by noble wines from the Esterházy vineyard and the winegrowing community "the st. Margarethener".
Accessibility & Shuttleservice
Accessibility
For people with handicaps, the opera in the Steinbruch offers a special service on site as well as discounts on ticket purchases.
Special parking spaces
Visitors with wheelchairs have their own parking area in the parking lot at the festival grounds. This is assigned by the folder staff on site. We appreciate your understanding that there is only a limited number of parking spaces available.
Barrier-free access
The access to the grounds of the opera in the Steinbruch and to the tribune is via a barrier-free ramp and is therefore also suitable for people with handicaps or wheelchair users.
Accessible toilets
There are barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible toilets on the festival grounds.
Discounts for people with disabilities
People with handicap receive 10% discount for a card on the normal price in all categories (except footless rows). Wheelchair users and their accompanying persons receive a 50% discount on the standard price for the wheelchair spaces defined in the seating plan
Shuttle service from the parking area to the grandstand
People with disabilities and elderly persons with reduced mobility are offered free transportation from the main entrance to the stone quarry to the grandstand. The shuttle bus provided for this purpose is equipped with wheelchair access and is supervised by qualified personnel
Traveling from Vienna
A2 direction Graz • at junction Guntramsdorf change to A3 direction Eisenstadt / Neusiedler See • exit Eisenstadt Süd, follow the B52 in the direction of St. Margarethen • take the second exit at the next roundabout and follow the road • at the roundabout at the end of St. Margarethen follow the Take the second exit • turn left at the green sign "Festspielgelände" You are located in the parking lot of the opera in the Steinbruch.
Bad weather
Weatherproof clothing
The performances at the Steinbruch St. Margarethen are open-air and are performed in the open air. The performances take place, if necessary, even in unfavorable weather. For this reason, we advise our guests to wear rainproof, warm clothing and solid shoes in case of bad weather forecast.
Cancellation, postponement and interruption
Cancellation can only take place at the beginning of the performance and can only be pronounced on the spot by the local festival committee. The Festiviteitung reserves the right to postpone the beginning of the introduction or to interrupt the performance due to weather conditions.
Weather report
The current weather report can also be found at www.zamg.ac.at
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