On March 8, Opera Out of Opera 2 reached its musical pinnacle in Salzburg with a breath-taking final performance.
This event was the culmination of two weeks of intensive rehearsals with young singers and students from Mozarteum Universität, Conservatorio Santa Cecilia di Roma, Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo do Porto (ESMAE), and KHiO. Selected last year by Prof. Mario Diaz, these talented performers were guided by Maestro Michelangelo Galeati, who led the project and conducted the Mozarteum Orchestra.
Picture by Daniel Sierra
The evening began with an immersive experience. As the audience arrived, they watched a pre-recorded performance of Act 1 from La Bohème, filmed earlier at KHiO. They then stepped into a specially designed space representing Act 2, where they were drawn into a live performance featuring the beloved Musetta’s Waltz, beautifully interpreted by soprano Anastasiia Demchenko in a truly innovative presentation.
The journey continued as the audience moved into another immersive setting that brought Act 3 to life. Finally, they were led into the concert hall for Act 4, performed live on stage. The soloists—Beatriz Patrocinio, Anastasiia Demchenko, Nattha Thammathi, Xiaofei Liu, Marcus Bartoletti, and Vsevolod Chernyshev—delivered deeply moving performances that resonated with the audience. Before the final act, Maestro Galeati provided a brief yet engaging introduction to Puccini’s central musical themes. The production was further enriched by powerful dance performances from Nina Serafine Bosshard, Jenny Szabo, and Daria Samoilenko, who embodied the enigmatic Parasites.
This special event was brought to life by the creative minds at KHiO and Mozarteum. A heartfelt thank you to the team behind the immersive scenography: Sophia Marlen Esterer, Tizian Amrei Fürst (Act 1), Therese Rosenauer (Act 2), Charlotte Streicher, Paul Meister, Aaron Herold (Act 3), Caroline Ulmar, and Lena Matterne (Act 4). Costume design was by Silje Marie Sivertsen.
Since its inception, Opera Out of Opera 2 has sought to bring opera closer to audiences in fresh and exciting ways. This final performance truly embodied that vision. A special thank you to Prof. Mario Diaz and the Universität Mozarteum for hosting this unforgettable event!
Till Ernecke and Rahel Hofbauer
