Festival of Opera and Operetta in Timisoara marks 20 years and 200th anniversary of birth of Johann Strauss

The Festival of Opera and Operetta, open-air, of the Romanian National Opera in Timisoara (ONRT) opens its 20th edition (September 4-7) on the well-established stage of the Summer Theatre in Roses Park with an exceptional evening dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss, famously known as "the King of the Waltz."

A premiere for this festival is the inclusion of ballet, which will bring "Baiadera" to the stage. The public will also reunite with "La Bohčme" while the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" will close the edition, inviting music lovers to the new ONRT season in the main hall.

On Thursday at 8:00 p.m., lovers of the lyrical stage are invited to the "Strauss Gala", performed by the ONRT Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Guido Mancusi, with soloists Renata Vari (soprano, guest), Milita Pantin (soprano), and Marius Vlad Budoiu (tenor, guest).

The program features famous works by Johann Strauss, including: Indigo Marsch, op. 34 (orchestral), Freut euch des Lebens - Waltz op. 340 (orchestral), Gabriele's aria from "Viennese Blood" (Renata Vari), Duke's aria from "A Night in Venice" (Marius Vlad Budoiu), Fata Morgana - Polka Mazur op. 330 (orchestral), Nights in Bucharest - Waltz no. 2 (orchestral), Zsupan's aria from "The Gypsy Baron" (Cristian Rudic), overture from the operetta "Waldmeister" (orchestral), Voices of Spring from "Viennese Blood" (Milita Pantin), and The Blue Danube (orchestral).

The evening will be hosted by Cristian Rudic, ONRT manager.

"This year, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss II, also known as "the King of the Waltz." Born on October 25, 1825, Strauss revolutionized Viennese dance music and became one of the most important composers of the 19th century. He founded the golden age of Viennese operetta, and our city should honor him, especially since he visited Timisoara at least once. We invite everyone to celebrate this unique moment at the Timisoara Opera with an exceptional gala. A new feature of this edition is four evenings of performances in Rozelor Park, with a diverse and colorful repertoire starting with the Strauss Gala. The second evening will feature the beloved "La Bohčme" by Giacomo Puccini, followed by our first outdoor ballet performance. For 20 years, we haven't done this, and now we dare with Ludwig Minkus's "Baiadera" in Rozelor Park, concluding with the much-loved musical "Fiddler on the Roof" by Jerry Bock," Rudic told AGERPRES on Thursday.

For ONRT, the season officially opens on September 20 with "Carmen" (repeated on September 21), directed by Silviu Purcarete with choreography by Dragos Buhagiar. This will be followed by Serenade at the Museum on September 28, the opera "Silvia" by Emmerich Kálmán on October 1 and 5, and "The Land of Smiles" by Franz Lehár on October 8. ONRT will also participate in the Sibiu Festival on October 11 with Silvia, followed by La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi on October 15, a gala honoring maestro Peter Oschanitzky on October 19, the concert "Meeting with Barinkay" at the Baroque Hall of the Timisoara National Art Museum on October 24, and concluding the month with "Fiddler on the Roof" on October 31.