Building site in the lake: Viewing platform opens

Bregenz, 6.10.23. Many know the lake stage as the site of spectacular opera productions by the Bregenz Festival. Currently the shoreline in front of the Festspielhaus presents a radically different picture – not only is the set for Madame Butterfly gone, but the concrete core on which sets stood for 45 years has also vanished. 

During construction work the lakeside auditorium was closed for health and safety reasons. But now a viewing platform has opened (Stairway F) from which visitors can see first hand what’s happening on the building site. We are also posting regular updates on our social media channels and via our webcam. 

Madame Butterfly stage dismantled
The day after the final performance of the opera, the festival’s technical staff emptied out the backstage structures: everything had to go, from the make-up mirrors to the loudspeakers concealed in the set. At the same time, trucks and heavy construction equipment built a road of rocks and stones across to the stage to provide access for the demolition crew. It only took a few weeks for the 300 tonne Madame Butterfly stage set as well as the 45 year old concrete core to disappear. The concrete core was the foundation that the sets were built on. It was part of the backstage area, where all the facilities and equipment needed for a production on the lake stage were located.

What happens next
All that remains is the concrete slab underwater. It was on this that the concrete core stood, and a new one will be placed there in the next few weeks. It’s estimated that workers can cast the new concrete slab at the end of the year. In parallel, preparations are underway for the opera on the lake stage in 2024/25, Der Freischütz, with the first piles being driven into the lake bed and the construction of parts of the set. 

The Bregenz Festival is happy to make broadcastable footage and photos available to media representatives for reporting purposes. If interested, please contact us at info@bregenzerfestspiele.com. 

The 2024 Bregenz Festival runs from 17 July to 18 August. For tickets and information on the programme, please visit www.bregenzerfestspiele.com or call tel. 0043 5574 407 6.
 

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