SCHIKANEDER
‘SCHIKANEDER - the turbulent love story behind the Magic Flute’ is a romantic musical comedy about one of the most dazzling theatre couples of the 18th century. Christian Struppeck had the idea of developing a musical about Emanuel Schikaneder when he discovered ‘The Sound of Music’ and a bust of Schikaneder at the Salzburg State Theatre. He delved into the fascinating life story of Schikaneder, who was not only a theatre director, stage director, actor, singer, librettist, inventor and poet and can be regarded as one of the most important theatre makers of the 18th century, and his marriage to his wife Eleonore.
When Struppeck told the renowned composer and Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz about his idea, he was immediately enthusiastic. Together with him and the most renowned minds in the genre - first and foremost director and Tony Award winner Sir Trevor Nunn - Struppeck developed a musical that makes the lifestyle of the theatre world of the time tangible. It tells of the initially young, carefree love of Emanuel and Eleonore Schikaneder, which developed into a genuinely mature partnership with highs and lows and had a significant influence on the theatre world in Vienna. Without them, one of the greatest works of opera literature - ‘The Magic Flute’ - would never have been realised. SCHIKANEDER celebrated its world premiere at the Raimund Theatre on 30 September 2016.
Synopsis
Vienna, 1789: After the death of her partner Johann Friedel, Eleonore Schikaneder inherits the theatre on the Wieden, but as a woman she is not allowed to run it alone. To save the theatre, her only option is to return to her separated husband Emanuel Schikaneder, the charismatic but also extremely unfaithful theatre-maker. Their history together is characterised by great successes, but also by Emanuel's affairs, which destroyed Eleonore's trust.
When she could no longer stand it, she left him to set up her own theatre with Johann Friedel. After several years apart, they now have to join forces again to run the theatre together and save their existence. Despite financial crises and Emanuel's imposture, they create the opera ‘The Magic Flute’ together. Intrigues, misunderstandings and setbacks accompany the rehearsals, but the premiere is a triumphant success. Through their shared passion for the theatre, Eleonore and Emanuel finally find each other again - not only as partners on stage, but also in life.
