Contracts of both VBW artistic directors extended until autumn 2030

© VBW / Johannes Ifkovits

The Vereinigte Bühnen Wien, a Wien Holding company, is continuing to build on the success of recent seasons by renewing the contracts of musical director Christian Struppeck and MusikTheater an der Wien director Stefan Herheim.

VBW musicals continue on the road to success with Christian Struppeck

The artistic direction of the two VBW musical theatres – Raimund Theater and Ronacher – will remain in the capable hands of Christian Struppeck, who has an impressive track record. The economically strongest years of the VBW fall within his time as artistic director. His programming is characterised by a balance of international hits such as MAMMA MIA!, MARY POPPINS and BODYGUARD, as well as VBW's own productions.

He wrote and developed successful VBW musicals such as I AM FROM AUSTRIA, THE VISIT, SCHIKANEDER or ROCK ME AMADEUS – THE FALCO MUSICAL, which is currently playing to sold-out houses every day and, due to its great success, was extended by a further season at the Ronacher shortly after its world premiere. At the same time, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Raimund Theatre is also recording excellent occupancy rates of around 100%. This follows on from the successful seasons of recent years at the Raimund Theatre and Ronacher, when productions such as CATS, REBECCA, DISNEY'S The Hunchback of Notre Dame or MISS SAIGON were also sold out almost every day.

In addition to the 19 major long-run musicals produced in the VBW theatres to that point, he also produced the semi-staged concerts such as JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, LOVE NEVER DIES, MESSIAH ROCKS and the concert version of the VBW hit musical ELISABETH, which featured a large orchestra in front of Schönbrunn Palace.

Szenenfoto ROCK ME AMADEUS - DAS FALCO MUSICAL 2023 017 © Deen van Meer
© Takarzuka Revue Company

But it was not only in Austria that many successful series of VBW productions such as DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, ELISABETH, MOZART!, DON CAMILLO AND PEPPONE or REBECCA were shown during his time as artistic director. His production I AM FROM ASUTRIA went directly to Japan (Osaka, Tokyo) as a Japanese premiere after two sold-out seasons at the Raimund Theater. The VISIT, which he also wrote, has been performed in a total of five countries (including Japan, Germany and the Netherlands). In addition, the celebrated Schönbrunn version of ELISABETH has recently been seen in China and Germany, as has the large new semi-staged version of REBECCA in China.

Struppeck is the recipient of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class.
He is currently working on several new VBW musicals, including MARIA THERESIA – THE MUSICAL, which will celebrate its world premiere at the Ronacher in October 2025.

  • "Musicals have always been my greatest passion and my artistic home. The opportunity to continue as artistic director of the Raimund Theater and the Ronacher fills me with gratitude and joy. My motivation was and is to touch audiences with innovative and emotionally moving productions and to enrich Vienna's cultural landscape with new impulses. It is an honour for me to accompany the musical division of the VBW on its path to a successful future, and I thank the City of Vienna for its trust in my vision."

    Christian Struppeck, Musical Director of the Vereinigten Bühnen Wien

Innovative music theatre with Stefan Herheim at the Theater an der Wien

Since taking up his position as artistic director of music theatre at the Wien with the 2022/23 season at the alternative venue in the MuseumsQuartier and at the Kammeroper, Stefan Herheim can already look back on numerous successful music theatre productions and prestigious awards. In his debut year, he received the International Opera Award for best director, which in turn went to Antonio Salieri's Kublai Khan for best rediscovered piece in 2024. All of the MusikTheater's an der Wien operetta productions, starting with Jacques Offenbach's La Périchole, Leonard Bernstein's Candide and, most recently, Johann Strauss's Das Spitzentuch der Königin, have won the BR-Klassik Operetta Frog Award. The participatory opera performance by and with young people, Superzero Baby!, won the STELLA* 24 award in the ‘Outstanding Music’ category. The recording of G.F. Handel's Theodora won the Venice TV Award in the ‘Performing Arts’ category, and the Austrian Music Theatre Prize 2024 went to La Périchole as best overall production and to Stefan Herheim as best director for The Cunning Little Vixen, which will become part of the repertoire of the Norwegian National Opera from 22 March 2025.

With the 2024/25 season, the artistic management moved into the newly renovated Theater an der Wien for the first time. Stefan Herheim and his team played a key role in the renovation of the theatre, where the first staged production, Das Spitzentuch der Königin, marked the beginning of the Johann Strauss year. Most recently, Gottfried von Einem's Der Prozess (The Trial) at the Kammeroper, also directed by Stefan Herheim himself, achieved an attendance rateof 99.6%.

On 16 February, the long-awaited premiere of the Bellini opera Norma with opera star Asmik Grigorian took place, with all performances sold out within a short time of going on sale.

Theater an der Wien © Peter M. Mayr

Together with the City of Vienna and Wien Holding, the VBW have decided to extend Stefan Herheim's contract until autumn 2030 as well and to continue the much-acclaimed programme of his directorship.

  • ‘It is a great pleasure for me to continue as artistic director of the MusikTheater an der Wien for the next five years. Both at the newly renovated main building at Naschmarkt and at the Kammeroper, our name is our programme and the stagione format guarantees what we absolutely want to offer our audience: a contemporary, varied, sophisticated and entertaining combination of music and theatre. And all this with up to 13 premieres per season at the highest international level!’

    MusikTheater an der Wien-Director Stefan Herheim

Statements

  • ‘Musical Director Christian Struppeck and Director of MusikTheater an der Wien Stefan have contributed significantly to the international appeal of the VBW with their commitment and expertise. The diversity of the productions, combined with the consistently high quality of their realisation and presentation on stage, make the VBW a unique flagship company in the industry and indispensable for Vienna's cultural landscape. Knowing that the programming of these three wonderful Viennese theatres will continue to be in the best of hands in the years to come not only makes me confident about the further development of the city, but also extremely proud.’

    Executive City Councillor for Finance, Business, Labour, International Affairs and Wiener Stadtwerke Peter Hanke

  • "I am pleased with the decision of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien to confirm their two artistic directors in their positions. Christian Struppeck and Stefan Herheim have faced major challenges as artistic directors, due to worldwide crises that have also put major cultural institutions under pressure. Even though some projects had to be postponed, both directors have managed to overcome these difficult years with sensitivity and artistic success. I am delighted that the respective contract extensions will enable them to realise their full potential in the service of a rich cultural city. I look forward to their future artistic impulses and visions in musical theatre and opera."

    Executive City Councillor for Culture and Science Veronica Kaup-Hasler

  • "I am delighted that both artistic directors Stefan Herheim and Christian Struppeck will continue their work at the VBW in the future. Christian Struppeck inspires audiences with successful musical productions that are not only audience magnets but also important tourist attractions. His work strengthens Vienna's reputation as a musical theatre metropolis and contributes to the success of the VBW's musical exports. Stefan Herheim has positioned the MusikTheater an der Wien as a unique stagione opera house with his innovative programme, which is confirmed by highly acclaimed and internationally awarded opera productions. I am convinced that we will continue on this successful path with both artistic directors and look forward to many more outstanding productions."

    Wien Holding Managing Director Kurt Gollowitzer

  • ‘With the extension of both directors until autumn 2030, the VBW, together with the owner Wien Holding and the City of Vienna, would like to continue the successful course in both divisions. In the musical theatre, we are experiencing highly successful seasons with almost sold-out houses for ROCK ME AMADEUS – THE FALCO MUSICAL and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, as well as record advance ticket sales for the latest VBW in-house production, MARIA THERESIA. Artistic Director Christian Struppeck is very well connected in the international musical theatre industry. Further promising musical projects are already in the pipeline. Artistic Director Stefan Herheim has finally arrived in Vienna and now particularly at the Theater an der Wien. After two seasons at the MuseumsQuartier, he has started his first season at the Theater an der Wien. The recipient of multiple awards for best director, Stefan Herheim should continue to be able to show his audience what he wants to bring to the stage as artistic director

    I am delighted that the successful path of the VBW can be continued with stability and continuity in both areas with the extension of both artistic directors.'

    VBW Managing Director Franz Patay
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