The Seefestspiele Mörbisch, originally: Seespiele Mörbisch, is an annual operetta festival in Mörbisch am See (Austria). With around 150,000 visitors, the Mörbisch Lake Festival is the world's largest festival of the operetta genre. In addition to operettas, classical musicals are also performed on an irregular basis. Above all, the natural scenery of Neusiedler See is always incorporated into the stage set. The area is very flat, so transmission technology specially developed for the Lake Festival is used.
History
Economic-touristic foundations The creation and development of the Seespiele Mörbisch was dominated by considerations of tourism policy. When, from 1953 onwards, efforts were made to develop Burgenland's tourism and to transform the visiting and transit area into a place to stay and relax, Lake Neusiedl and the lakeside communities were at the centre of these efforts. In the municipality of Mörbisch am See, the road between Rust and Mörbisch was extended with strong support from the tourism department, an lake dam, which opened up Lake Neusiedl to visitors from Mörbisch, was built and a lido was constructed. Mörbisch became the fourth important tourist community on the lake, alongside Rust, Neusiedl am See and Podersdorf am See. In 1956, the people of Mörbisch invited to a two-day Seefest. Together with the , the community organised a so-called Night and Lake Festival, which was attended by 6000 guests. The programme offered night rides in decorated motorboats, music was provided by dance bands, Viennese artists performed a complete cabaret programme, and folk song and dance groups also performed.Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, .
In 1957, the Burgenland press announced the first highlight of the development of Mörbisch into a Burgenland tourist centre through the construction of a lakeside hotel.. und der Abhaltung von Seespielen an und damit verbunden den Beginn eines neuen Abschnitts burgenländischen Wirtschafts- und Kulturaufstiegs.Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, .
Foundation, technical equipment The initiative for the Seespiele, founded in the years 1955–1957, came from the celebrated chamber singer Herbert Alsen (among others) at the Vienna State Opera (1906–1978), who, together with his wife, the costume designer Gisela Bossert (†2012), who had worked in Berlin, discovered the venue by chance while looking for a holiday location that was climatically conducive to his voice, and whom the peculiar musicality of this landscapeFreies Burgenland. Kommunistisches Wochenblatt No. 27/1957, 7 July 1957. Globus-Verlag, Vienna 1957, , From: Awecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, . permanently touched. Alsen's plans found favour with the municipal council of Mörbisch as well as with the representative of the province, (1899–1974), especially as the project fitted into the tourism concept of the municipality and the province, and Alsen subsequently agreed to take over the directorship of the Seespiele for an initial period of five years (with reference to possible competition with the Bregenz Festivals), stressing that the Seespiele in Mörbisch did not want to be a festival that would add to the excessive number of festival venues.Mörbisch am See: New centre of tourism. The new lakeside hotel nearing completion 6 July: Opening of the Seespiele - Sacrifice and idealism at work.(…) Die Seespiele. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 27, nr. 26, 1957, , column 1, bottom.
After two years of preparation, the opening took place on 6 July 1957 with the operetta The Gypsy Baron by Johann Strauss II.
The lake stage was built in a bay next to the Mörbisch bathing beach on many hundreds of piles according to the plans of architect (1915–2008), the designer of the first Bregenz lake stage. Its dimensions were 42 by 20 m; the auditorium, created by filling in the lake, contained 1,50025 Jahre Seespiele Mörbisch. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 51, nr. 31, 1981, .Also: The auditorium offers space for 1,800 visitors. – See Mörbisch am See: New centre of tourism. The new lakeside hotel nears completion – 6 July: Opening of the Seespiele – Sacrifice and idealism at work.(...) Seespiele in Mörbisch. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 27, no. 26, 1957, , column 3 centre. Seating capacity.Awecker et al: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, . After an extension in 1959, 3000 people could be accommodated. Today the auditorium has over 6000 seats. In the following years, due to the great audience response, there were constant expansions, both in terms of the number of performances and the size of the auditorium and stage. From an initial six performances with about 7000 spectators (1957), the number increased to over 30 performances in July and August.
In 2006, a new sound system developed by the and also in use at the Bregenz Festival was put into operation. This makes directional listening possible despite the size of the stage.Henning Köhler (Red.). In iuk.fraunhofer.de, 27 June 2006, retrieved 25 July 2021.Wolfgang Fritz retrieved from the Bregenz Festival page For several years the premiere of the Seefestspiele was broadcast by the ORF.Andrea Rössner (Red.): Hohe Einschaltquoten bei ORF-Übertragung aus Mörbisch. In ots.at, 5 August 2001, retrieved 25 July 2021. With the 2013 season, however, this practice was ended.
In 2018, specially staged performances for children were shown for the first time. A one-hour adaptation of Countess Mariza was shown in June 2018 on a stage set up on the festival grounds for a total of six performances. Up to 250 children were seated at each performance, and visitors were also given the opportunity to sing and dance along. The aim was to bring operetta closer to the children. The same soloists were on stage as in the regular performances.orf.at: Erstmals Kinderoperette in Mörbisch. Article from 20 January 2018, retrieved on 20 January 2018. As part of the , the Seefestspiele received the prize for the best youth and children's musical theatre production for Land of Smiles for Children.
Director of the Mörbisch Lake Festival since its foundation 1957–1978: Herbert Alsen (intendant), Franziska Schurli (December 1919, 21 January 1984) (managing Director) 1979–1980: Fred Liewehr (artistic director), Franziska Schurli (managing director)Burgenländische Festspiele: Four venues - two artistic directors. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 49, no. 10, 1979, . 1981–1983: Franziska Schurli (artistic director and managing director)Die Burgenländischen Festspiele stehen auf einer neuen Basis. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 50, nr. 47, 1980, . 1984–1989: Robert Herzl (artistic director) Heinrich Meyer (managing director)Burgenland's influence on an even broader basis. A new festival era. Festival committees In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 54, nr. 13, 1984, , bottom right. 1990–1992: (intendant),Vorhang auf für's Nachfolgespiel. In Burgenländische Freiheit. vol. 62, nr. 36, 1992, pp. 4f. Josef Wiedenhofer (managing director). 1993–2012: Harald Serafin (artistic director), Dietmar Posteiner (managing director). 2013–2017: Dagmar Schellenberger (artistic director), Dietmar Posteiner (managing director) since 2018: Peter Edelmann.orf.at: Seefestspiele: Edelmann instead of Pichowetz Article from 31 May 2017, retrieved 25 July 2021 (artistic director), Dietmar Posteiner (managing director), since 2021 additionally as General Music Director of Burgenland.
From 1995 to 2008, Rudolf Bibl was musical director, and was appointed honorary member of the festival in 2013.Rudolf Bibl first honorary member of Mörbisch. Article from 12 July 2013, retrieved 25 July 2021.
Performances, artists Performances With a total of twelve seasons, The Gypsy Baron is by far the most frequently performed operetta in Mörbisch.
Year Operetta / * Musical Composer Direction 1957Of eight intended performances, two were cancelled due to bad weather. The performances began at 7 pm. The ticket prices were 10 Austrian shilling,- (0,73 Euro) to 50,- (3,63 Euro). and 1958 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Fritz Diestel bzw. Erwin Euller 1958 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Fritz DiestelAwecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, . bzw. Heinz LambrechtZweite Premiere in Mörbisch: Ein gelungenes Experiment. In Burgenländische Freiheit, vol. 27, nr. 31, 1958, , top. 1959 and 1960 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Ernst Pichler 1959 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Alfred WalterAwecker et al.: Theatergeschichte des Burgenlandes, S. 356. 1960 Viktoria und ihr Husar Paul Abraham Kurt Pscherer 1961 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Pscherer 1962 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Karl Heinz Krahl 1963 Gasparone Carl Millöcker Otto Ambros 1964 Die lustige Witwe Franz Lehár Otto Fritz 1965 Die Blume von Hawaii Paul Abraham Otto Fritz 1966 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II András Mikó 1967 Robert Stolz Karl Heinz Haberland 1968 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán András Mikó 1969 Der Bettelstudent Carl Millöcker Hermann Wedekind 1970 Die ungarische Hochzeit Nico Dostal Kurt Pscherer 1971 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Pscherer 1972 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Otto Fritz 1973 Viktoria und ihr Husar Paul Abraham Rolf Kutschera 1974 Der Vogelhändler Carl Zeller Karl Dönch 1975 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II András Mikó 1976 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Karl Dönch 1977 Maske in Blau Fred Raymond Robert Herzl (theatre director) 1978 Die Zirkusprinzessin Emmerich Kálmán Robert Herzl 1979 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Pscherer 1980 Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II Kurt Pscherer 1981 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Glado von May 1982 Ein Walzertraum Oscar Straus Robert Herzl 1983 Edmund Eysler Robert Herzl 1984 Die Zirkusprinzessin Emmerich Kálmán Kurt Huemer 1985 Im weißen Rößl Ralph Benatzky Robert Herzl 1986 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Robert Herzl 1987 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Robert Herzl 1988 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Robert Herzl 1989 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Otto Fritz 1990 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Sándor Nemeth 1991 Sissi und Romy Roland Baumgartner Edwin Zbonek 1992 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Wilfried Steiner 1993 Die lustige Witwe Franz Lehár Michael Maurer 1994 Wiener Blut Johann Strauss II Alexander Waechter 1995 Der Bettelstudent Carl Millöcker Winfried Bauernfeind 1996 Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II 1997 Pariser Leben Jacques Offenbach Alain Marcel 1998 Der Vogelhändler Carl Zeller Winfried Bauernfeind 1999 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Helmuth Lohner 2000 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Heinz Marecek 2001 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Winfried Bauernfeind 2002 Die Csárdásfürstin Emmerich Kálmán Helmuth Lohner 2003 Giuditta Franz Lehár Gernot Friedel 2004 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Winfried Bauernfeind 2005 Die lustige Witwe Franz Lehár Helmuth Lohner 2006 Der Graf von Luxemburg Franz Lehár Dietmar Pflegerl 2007 Wiener Blut Johann Strauss II Maximilian Schell 2008 Im weißen Rößl Ralph Benatzky Karl Absenger 2009 My Fair Lady Frederick Loewe Helmuth Lohner 2010 Der Zarewitsch Franz Lehár Peter Lund 2011 The Gypsy Baron Johann Strauss II Brigitte Fassbaender 2012 Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II Helmuth Lohner 2013 Der Bettelstuden Carl Millöcker Ralf Nürnberger 2014 Anatevka Jerry Bock Karl Absenger 2015 Eine Nacht in Venedig Johann Strauss II Karl Absenger 2016 Viktoria und ihr Husar Paul Abraham Andreas Gergen 2017 Der Vogelhändler Carl Zeller Axel Köhler 2018 Gräfin Mariza Emmerich Kálmán Karl Absenger 2019 Das Land des Lächelns Franz Lehár Leonard Prinsloo 2021 West Side Story Leonard Bernstein Werner Sobotka 2022 The King and I Richard Rodgers Simon Eichenberger2023Mamma Mia!Benny Andersson & Björn UlvaeusAndreas Gergen2024My Fair LadyFrederick LoeweSimon Eichenberger2025Saturday Night FeverRobert Stigwood & Bill OakesKarl Absenger2026La Cage aux FollesJerry Herman Andreas Gergen