Bregenz Festival: windy traviLa traviata rehearsal on the sea stage

On Monday evening, during the Bregenzer Festspiele, a general rehearsal for this year’s production of Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata took place on the lake stage. The weather was dry but extremely windy, with gusts reaching up to 30 km/h. Despite these conditions, the performers remained steadfast on stage, though some audience members wore hats and hoodies to shield themselves from the elements. The wind occasionally disrupted the sound system, causing some equipment to malfunction and even damaging a few props. The production, which marks a first for the festival’s 80-year history, features around 25 soloists, 40 dancers and stagehands, along with numerous technical staff and crew members. They have rehearsed twice daily since mid-June. The director, Damiano Michieletto, has set the story of the opera in the glittering 1920s, a time when opulence and parties were meant to mask inner emptiness and confusion. The musical direction is led by Kirill Karabits and Pietro Rizzo. The stage design, created by Paolo Fantin, is dominated by a 28-meter-high mirror split into 86 pieces, covering an area of 700 square meters. This mirror symbolizes the protagonist’s inner life. Over half of the 86 fragments can be moved, with some serving as fold-out performance areas. Twenty-nine speakers are embedded within the walls, ensuring high-quality acoustics. Beneath the mirror wall lies a reflective floor and a water tank, forming the main performance space. The opera will premiere on Wednesday on the lake stage, with favorable weather forecasts. The festival runs from July 22 to August 23, featuring 28 performances in total. A total of 188,000 tickets have been sold since Easter, indicating strong public interest. The event is part of the 80th edition of the Bregenzer Festspiele, which takes place from July 22 to August 23. Further information can be found at www.bregenzerfestspiele.com.