Wiedeńska krew

There are countless reasons why operetta is so wonderful. The scent of the landscape, the atmosphere of the era, the nuances of the language, the taste of a unique lifestyle, and the boundless power of the melodies. These elements are an expression of human desire for joyful existence, then and now. Timeless and universal, "Wien Blood" by Johann Strauss II, which was restored shortly after his death, is witty, light, and sentimental, and it captivates the heart and demands to be listened to with emotion. The action of the operetta "Wien Blood" takes place in the context of the 1815 Congress of Vienna, where European monarchs convened to restore the old order, balance mutual influence, and maintain peace. My staging reveals the scent of those times and the historical fact that numerous social occasions accompanying the main political event were overtaken by a new dance – the Viennese waltz. This revolutionary social dance is a hidden gem of Viennese operetta: by ignoring old moral conventions, it brings men and women together in a way that was previously allowed. In "Wien Blood," the waltz puts all the characters in a state of heightened sensuality: formal rules are playfully transformed into a full expression of desire and longing, leading to joyful abandon. – Giorgio Madia, director