Current events
2008 State Exhibition
People, Myths and Monarchs
29 April to 1 November in the Trinkhalle Bad Ischl
The 2008 "Im Salzkammergut" state exhibition is a series of exhibitions and attractions organized between the beginning of May and beginning of November. Bad Ischl will be one of the main centres for the Upper Austrian exhibition. Entitled, "People, Myths, and Monarchs", visitors can look forward to an interesting and worthwhile event. It will focus on the myths and legends that surround the Habsburgs, and on the fate of artists and other famous visitors to the town, as well as the development of Bad Ischl during each era.
People
In the 19th century during the idyllic summer months Bad Ischl was the haunt of the upper classes, who spent several months here each year. The relaxed atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the magnificent scenery and the health resorts meant that it was also popular with artists such as Franz Lehár and Johann Nestroy, who created great musical, literary and artistic works here.
Myths
"...in the town he is referred to as the prince from the salt", wrote Archduchess Sophie in 1831. Her cure in Bad Ischl had resulted in her giving birth to three sons after a long period of infertility, the eldest of which was Franz Joseph. It was in Bad Ischl that the young emperor got engaged to the charming Sisi in 1853. She in turn was to become a legend herself due to her beauty, restlessness and endless obsession with her health.
Monarchs
From 1848 onwards Emperor Franz Joseph I spent each summer in Bad Ischl, and the Kaiservilla became his second seat of government after Vienna. Consequently, high-ranking politicians and the monarchs from all over the world were frequent visitors to the town.
Operetta Summer 2008
The Gypsy Baron
A three-act operetta by Johann Strauss Jr., with the libretto by Ignaz Schnitzer based on the work of Maurus Jokais
Johann Strauss’ masterpiece amusingly describes the dispute between the young landowner Sandor Barinkay, who having "travelled around the world as a free spirit" has now returned to claim his father's land and property, grabbed by the pig-breeder Zsupán during the Turkish wars. The latter proudly boasts that "reading and writing have never been his thing". Gypsies have now occupied the land and proclaimed Barinkay their "Baron". Barinkay falls in love with the beautiful Gipsy Saffi and lives with her in sin. After many misunderstandings, confusion and intrigue, Barinkay is handed another treasure: pure gold...
Premiere: 21 July 2007
The Czarevitch
An operetta in three acts by Franz Lehár
Libretto by Bela Jenbach and Heinz Reichert, based on the work of Gabryela Zapolska-Scharlitt
This operetta, set in Czarist Russia at the end of the 19th century, tells the bittersweet love story between Aljosha - one of the roles Lehár had written for his tenor friend Richard Tauber - and the dancer Sonja. "Someone will come" - she sings - and desire her. And indeed she does succeed in transforming the professed misogynist Aljoscha into a loving man. When the czar dies however, after his brief period of happiness the czarevitch is forced to renounce the love of his life for reasons of state...
More information: www.badischl.at
