Who sings when and why?

The Bregenz Festival traditionally engages several singers for individual roles in the opera on the lake stage. Up to three performers take turns in a rotation system. This protects their voices from strain and guarantees the highest quality of singing.

Carl Maria von Weber’s Romantic opera will be given a total of 28 performance at the Bregenz Festival this year. This can only be achieved with multiple casts. But who sings when, who decides and according to what criteria? Just as unusual as the opera on the lake itself are certain requirements for the realisation of the Bregenz Festival’s flagship event. As there are so many performances in such a short space of time, three singers are cast in each of the four big roles of Der Freischütz: Agathe, Ännchen, Kaspar and Max. “The roles are not only extremely demanding vocally, but we also demand a lot from our singers physically,” explains the Bregenz Festival’s personnel manager, Michael Csar. “Exposure to the elements, the enormous dimensions of the lake stage, and a production concept in which the performers play on, in and sometimes even under the water – all this can hardly be compared with a normal opera stage.”

Even if everyone is in excellent shape, nobody is immune to illness. All it takes is a cold and you have to take time off. The Leading Team can rest more easily when there is triple casting for the big roles and double casting for the others. You know there’s always someone there to cover for any absences. With around 7,000 people atending each performance, multiple casting also makes economic sense by reducing possible risks.

The fact that artists usually only have a turn every three nights results in a certain luxury that Bregenz can afford. After rehearsals begin, there are around three weeks for the festival to find out who harmonises perfectly with whom – both musically and in terms of staging. “All constellations are played through,” says Michael Csar, “and in the end there’s no better or worse cast, but three very well-matched ones where the sound and chemistry are right.”

The decision is arrived at by artistic director Elisabeth Sobotka, Michael Csar, the musical director and the directorial team acting in very close consultation, and is taken around two weeks before the premiere. The criteria include an assessment of whether a performer feels pushed to the limit by the enormity of the lake stage, or can cope with the overall situation in a totally relaxed manner. The directing team can judge that best from close at hand. 

Cast for the opening night, 17 July 2024:

Agathe Nikola Hillebrand
Ännchen Katharina Ruckgaber
Max Mauro Peter
Kaspar Christof Fischesser
Samiel Moritz von Treuenfels
 

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