Schikaneder Slider en © VBW / Rafaela Pröll

World premiere on 30 September 2016

“SCHIKANEDER – The turbulent love story behind The Magic Flute” is a romantic musical comedy about the actor, singer, director, writer and impresario Emanuel Schikaneder and his wife, Eleonore Schikaneder celebrated its world premiere on 30 September 2016. It continues the VBW’s tradition of creating new in-house productions – the autumn production of SCHIKANEDER is the Raimund Theater’s twelfth world premiere musical. 

This is the story of the unconventional marriage between the actor, singer, director, writer and stage manager Emanuel Schikaneder and his wife Eleonore, the relationship between them and their impact to the artistic scenes of the time.

Without it, one of the greatest opera libretti of all time – “The Magic Flute” – would never have been written.

Trailer

SCHIKANEDER - Official Trailer - Extended Version

SCHIKANEDER - Official Trailer - Extended Version

Synopsis The Turbulent Love Story Behind The Magic Flute

The multi-talented young actor, singer, poet, director and theatre manager, Emanuel Schikaneder, is a hit with audiences right from the word go. His on-stage charisma is equalled only by the force of his charm off-stage - women throw themselves at him by the score. But it is only Eleonore who manages to win his heart, and from then on the two make a brilliant couple, on stage as well as off. It seems that nothing can stop the meteoric rise of Emanuel and Eleonore Schikaneder. They found their own theatre troupe, entertaining audiences from Augsburg to Vienna. Their flair for theatre and feel for what audiences want brings them gales of applause wherever they perform. Soon their fame precedes them wherever they go. Schikaneder is now able to achieve his greatest theatrical dreams as a director and his skilful mix of poetry and spectacle delights audiences across every social class.

Only one thing tarnishes the magic the couple share: Schikaneder’s constant infidelities. Eventually Leonore decides to go her own way and leaves with Johann Friedl, a young member of the troupe, to manage the “Theater auf der Wieden”, an enterprise that is not exactly crowned with success. To add to her misfortunes, her partner dies and she finds herself confronted with the choice between giving up her theatre or asking her not-yet-ex-husband, Emanuel Schikaneder, to run the theatre with her. Together they go on to create one of the greatest theatrical triumphs of all time.

The love they once shared is put to a new test: only if they can regain their trust in each other and work together, will they be able to recapture their lost theatrical magic and go on to still greater things. A balancing act begins between trust and turning away. This vibrant musical comedy combines romantic and comic scenes with serious and emotional moments, and transports us into the colourful and turbulent world of Viennese theatre at the end of the 18th century.

Story of development International creative and leading team from Broadway and West End

The VBW were able to attract international acclaimed creatives from London and New York to realise our production of SCHIKANEDER.

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Music & Lyrics

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Music & Lyrics

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Director

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Director

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Book

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Book

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - orchestration

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - orchestration

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Choreography

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Choreography

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Set and Costume Design

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Set and Costume Design

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - lighting design

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - lighting design

Cast Our Cast of SCHIKANEDER

Leading Team Our international Leading Team

Videos videos, photos and more

SCHIKANEDER - Official Trailer - Extended Version

SCHIKANEDER - Official Trailer - Extended Version

Schikaneder TV Spot

Schikaneder TV Spot

Highlights aus dem neuen Musical der Vereinigten Bühnen Wien!

Schikaneder - Backstage

Schikaneder - Backstage

Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen von SCHIKANEDER und die vielen unsichtbaren Hände, die jeden Abend  dafür sorgen, dass er für unser Publikum zauberhaft wird.

 

SCHIKANEDER premiere

SCHIKANEDER premiere

Sitzprobe Schikaneder

Sitzprobe Schikaneder

Get some insights of the first rehearsal with orchestra of SCHIKANEDER - The turbulent love story behind the magic flute!

World premiere on 30th of september 2016.

SCHIKANEDER sound recording "Träum groß"

SCHIKANEDER sound recording "Träum groß"

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Music & Lyrics

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Music & Lyrics

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Director

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Director

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Book

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Book

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - orchestration

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - orchestration

SCHIKANEDER - Trailer press conference

SCHIKANEDER - Trailer press conference

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Choreography

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Choreography

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Set and Costume Design

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - Set and Costume Design

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - lighting design

Leading Team SCHIKANEDER - lighting design

Photos Gallery

SCHIKANEDER 2016

Press Reviews Everybody talks about SCHIKANEDER

Broadwayworld.com
"Quality […] you might otherwise find only in New York on Broadway or in London’s West End.”

Salzburger Nachrichten
“A well-made play.”

Österreich
“Struppeck’s musical is highly impressive.”

“‘Schikaneder’ proves that Christian Struppeck, the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien’s Artistic Director of Musicals, is a master of his craft.”

Kleine Zeitung
“Nothing stands in the way of becoming a worldwide hit!”

Der Standard
“Veteran director Trevor Nunn’s fast-paced staging exhibits both craft and virtuosity.”

Kronen Zeitung
“Star director Trevor Nunn (‘Cats, ‘Les Miserables’, Royal Shakespeare Company) is a theatrical wizard who knows how to craft thrilling stage moments. He sends his characters racing through their scenes and gives them clear contours.”

Tiroler Tageszeitung
“Standing ovations for the opulent baroque musical ‘Schikaneder’ at Vienna’s Raimund Theater.”

“Candles, fantastic costumes, baroque stage machinery, fire, pyramids and a tethered hot air balloon invoke Schikaneder’s theatrical magic and are a big factor in this new musical’s success.”

News News about the show

CD Cast Album Wien © Vereinigte  Bühnen Wien

SCHIKANEDER CD

Out now!

The original cast album of the successful in-house production SCHIKANEDER is now available as a double album, published by HITSQUAD RECORDS.

 

More zu Schikaneder »

Press conference Schikaneder © Rupert Steiner

Livestream

SCHIKANEDER Press Conference

At the Raimund Theater on 10 May 2016 there will be a presentation of the cast and production of the new VBW musical “SCHIKANEDER”.

More zu Schikaneder »

  • Schikaneder 2016

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