July 9, 2025

‘The Flying Dutchman’ – sold-out Wagner debut at the quarry

With Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman”, the opera in the St. Margarethen quarry celebrated a furious start: Around 5,000 guests experienced a sold-out premiere in the open air – a spectacular visual and musical experience in a unique natural setting.

Spectacularly staged by Philipp M. Krenn, with an impressive set design by Momme Hinrichs and under the musical direction of Patrick Lange, Wagner’s seafaring drama unfolds as a complete audiovisual experience. A high-calibre ensemble – including George Gagnidze, Elisabeth Teige, James Rutherford and Tommi Hakala – brings world-class Wagnerian sound to the quarry.

The production not only marks the first Wagner work on this stage, but also the start of a new cultural era under SBS Opernbetrieb Burgenland GmbH.

Next performances:
10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 & 31 July
1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23 August

Start: July at 8.30 pm / August at 8 pm

TICKET ORDERS
Ticket office pan.event
T: +43 2682 65065
E: tickets@panevent.at

All further information and stage tours at www.operimsteinbruch.at

Preview 2026: Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ at the Opera in the Quarry
2026 brings Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Tosca’, one of the most popular works of opera literature, back to the most beautiful open-air stage in Europe. The melodrama about love, jealousy and betrayal unfolds its full emotional power in the monumental natural setting. Puccini’s music is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions – with world-famous arias such as Cavaradossi’s ‘Recondita armonia’ and ‘E lucevan le stelle’, Tosca’s poignant ‘Vissi d’arte’ and Scarpia’s dark aria ‘Ha più forte sapore’.

A leading team that has already worked several times for the opera in the St. Margarethen quarry has once again been recruited: Thaddeus Strassberger is responsible for staging and set design (‘Turandot’ 2021, ‘Aida’ 2024), while the costumes are by Giuseppe Palella (“Turandot” 2021, ‘Aida’ 2024). The musical director is Valerio Galli, who already impressed with ‘Carmen’ in the quarry in 2023.