High demand expected at Bregenz Festival: Anticipated attendance of 249,000 visitors
The Bregenz Festival, Austria's renowned annual performing arts extravaganza, is set to conclude next Sunday, with the opera "Der Freischütz" by Carl Maria von Weber still gracing the lake stage for four more performances.
This year's festival, which featured approximately 80 events, saw a significant drop in attendance compared to 2021, with estimates suggesting around 20,000 fewer visitors. The exact number of attendees for the 2022 festival remains unclear, but the festival organisers have not released official statistics as of yet.
One of the well-received performances this year was George Enescu's opera about Oedipus. Meanwhile, "Der Freischütz" performances were 97% sold out this summer, with the cancelled shows being rescheduled for the audience with the most expensive tickets in the festival hall. All other tickets for the cancelled performances will be refunded.
In a notable change, Lilli Paasikivi from Finland has been appointed as the new artistic director for the lake stage productions of the Bregenz Festival.
Looking ahead, the festival will present "La traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi on the lake stage for the first time in the next two summers. Damiano Michieletto will direct this opera, marking an exciting addition to the festival's repertoire.
The advance sale for the Bregenz Festival productions, including "La traviata" and "The Excursions of Mr. Brouček", begins on September 29. "The Excursions of Mr. Brouček" by Leos Janáček will be shown in the festival hall.
Gioachino Rossini's "La Cenerentola" at the Kornmarkt Theater was already sold out, with around 2,000 visitors in total.
As the festival winds down, the dismantling of the lake stage set will begin on Monday. The festival organisers did not provide information about the number of visitors for the other approximately 50 concerts, theater, and opera performances.
Despite the reduced attendance this year, the Bregenz Festival continues to captivate audiences and promises an exciting future with its upcoming productions. For those interested in attending, advance ticket sales start on September 29.
The upcoming "La traviata" performance by Giuseppe Verdi and "The Excursions of Mr. Brouček" by Leos Janáček, set to be held during the next Bregenz Festival, are anticipated sources of entertainment. With advance ticket sales commencing on September 29, theater enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their seats for these captivating performances.
