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Rigoletto

VenueRömersteinbruch Sankt Margarethen
CalendarWed 14 Jul 2027 - Sun 22 Aug 2027
Synopsis/Details

Rigoletto – Giuseppe Verdi
14 July – 22 August 2027

 

Plot

In the 2027 season, one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most popular operas returns to Oper im Steinbruch St. Margarethen. The rugged rock landscape of the quarry provides a breathtaking backdrop for Verdi’s masterpiece.

The story of the court jester Rigoletto and his daughter Gilda is as gripping as a crime thriller and as tragic as almost any other operatic tale. Rigoletto is the court jester of the Duke of Mantua, a notorious womanizer. The jester constantly mocks the Duke’s victims, their cuckolded husbands and distraught fathers. He humiliates them with biting sarcasm. Count Monterone, the father of one of the Duke’s victims, curses the jester for his cruelty. When Rigoletto then suggests to the courtiers that they abduct the wife of Count Ceprano for the Duke, they are horrified and seek to teach the malicious jester a lesson. Instead, they abduct Rigoletto’s supposed lover, who is in fact his daughter. The court jester searches for his daughter Gilda and finds her again at the court. She confesses that she has been seduced by the Duke. The jester, now seeing his own daughter dishonored, decides to have the Duke murdered. However, Sparafucile, the assassin hired by Rigoletto, tragically stabs Gilda, who, driven by naïve love, attempts to save the Duke. Thus, Count Monterone’s curse is ultimately fulfilled.

 

A Place of Great Appeal

Nestled in the vast, open landscape between the Leitha Mountains and the steppe lake, the natural beauty of the Rust hills surprises visitors to the Neusiedler See region. It is no coincidence that UNESCO has designated the region and the St. Margarethen quarry as a World Heritage Site.

Since 1996, the St. Margarethen quarry has been one of Europe’s leading meeting places for international opera enthusiasts. Its location at the heart of a historically significant cultural landscape promises a journey into unique worlds of experience.

With its commitment to presenting popular, high-quality opera productions, Oper im Steinbruch is equally an attraction for an enthusiastic audience as well as for international opera stars and renowned musicians.

Under the ownership of the Esterházy Private Foundation, the venue underwent extensive redevelopment in 2006. The young international architecture firm AWG from Vienna handled the project with great sensitivity, creating a fascinating architectural setting within this delicate natural space.

  • Where will the opera take place and how can I get there?
    • The performance of Rigoletto will take place at Oper im Steinbruch, Römersteinbruch 1, 7062 St. Margarethen im Burgenland, Austria. The venue is accessible by car via the A3 and B52, with the festival site clearly signposted from St. Margarethen. For GPS navigation, use Römersteinbruch 1, 7062 St. Margarethen or the coordinates N 47.802029, E 16.636369.
    • • Due to potentially heavy traffic, we recommend allowing sufficient travel time. Access to the festival grounds and Foyer Park is possible from two hours before the start of the performance, with various catering options available.
  • When should I arrive?
    • We recommend arriving at least 30–60 minutes before the scheduled start time to allow enough time for parking, entry and finding your seat.
  • Are there facilities for visitors with limited mobility?
    • The opera arena and seating area are accessible via a barrier-free ramp, and accessible toilets are available. Visitors with disabilities or seniors with mobility impairments can use the free shuttle from the main entrance to the opera arena. Disabled parking spaces are also available, subject to availability.
  • What happens in case of bad weather?
    • Performances take place outdoors and may continue in rainy conditions. We recommend wearing warm, rainproof clothing and sturdy shoes. The Festival management may delay the start or interrupt the performance due to weather conditions. Performances are not cancelled before the scheduled start time.
Venue
Römersteinbruch Sankt Margarethen

The Festival arena in the Römersteinbruch St. Margarethen is Europe's biggest natural stage. The open-air concert hall has an area of 7,000 square metres, with space for 4,670 people. Its unique acoustics and its special atmosphere alone make it the perfect place to experience the thrilling world of opera. The impressive setting arouses emotions that go beyond the confines of music.

Unforgettable experience

The monumental rockface, the unique acoustics and the special climate and the fauna and flora all contribute to an unforgettable evening at the opera. The Festival arena in the Roman quarry arouses emotions, creates tension and brings people closer. An exclusive location that our audiences return to time after time.

 

The St. Margarethen Opera Festival is about 70 km from Vienna.

From Vienna

• A2 towards Graz
• At the Guntramsdorf intersection switch to the A3 towards Eisenstadt / Neusiedler See
• Take the Eisenstadt Süd exit, then turn right on to the B52 going towards St. Margarethen
• At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow the road
• At the roundabout at the far end of St. Margarethen, take the second exit
• You'll see a green sign marked "Festspielgelände": turn left, park the car and enjoy your evening!

From Graz

• A2 towards Vienna
• At the Wiener Neustadt intersection switch to the S4 towards Eisenstadt / Mattersburg
• At the Mattersburg intersection switch to the S31 towards Eisenstadt / Sopron
• Take the Eisenstadt Süd exit, then turn right on to the B52 going towards St. Margarethen
• At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow the road
• At the roundabout at the far end of St. Margarethen, take the second exit
• You'll see a green sign marked "Festspielgelände": turn left, park the car and enjoy your evening!

From Linz

• At the Steinhäusl intersection, switch to the A21 towards Wien Süd / Graz
• At the Vösendorf intersection, switch to the A2 towards Eisenstadt / Graz wechseln
• At the Guntramsdorf intersection, switch to the A3 towards Eisenstadt / Neusiedler See
• Take the Eisenstadt Süd exit, then turn right on to the B52 going towards St. Margarethen
• At the next roundabout take the second exit and follow the road
• At the roundabout at the far end of St. Margarethen, take the second exit
• You'll see a green sign marked "Festspielgelände": turn left, park the car and enjoy your evening!
 
There are plenty of parking spaces available at no charge on the Festival site!

 

Experience stone quarry


Since 1996, the stone quarry of St. Margarethen has been a meeting place for international opera friends in Europe. The location at the center of a historically significant cultural landscape promises a journey into unique worlds of experience.


With the quality claim to offer popular and high-quality opera productions, the opera in the Steinbruch is the same attraction for an enthusiastic audience as well as for international opera stars and musicians.


Under the private foundation Esterházy as owner, this location experienced a comprehensive expansion in 2006. The young, international architectural group AWG from Vienna has understood this with a sense of sensitivity to give the sensitive space a very exciting architecture.

 

 

Festival Area


The Steinbruch in St. Margarethen is one of the most beautiful and imposing open-air arenas in Europe, with two stages of unique atmosphere and acoustics: the main stage with 7,000 m2, a huge open-air concert hall with almost 5,000 spectator seats and the Ruffini stage with up to 2,300 seats . It was named after Romulo Ruffini, the head of Prince Esterházy's stone quarry.


A modern infrastructure provides you with numerous amenities during your visit to the Opera in the Steinbruch. The access to the quarry through a spacious ramp provides a special experience: wonderful views of the landscape surrounding the quarry, as well as a first glimpse into the cultural experience to be expected. From here, visitors can already take a look at the stage (s), the opera lounge, the rocky crags and the lively activity before a wonderful opera performance.


Gastronomy


Opernlounge


An evening at the Opernlounge in the Steinbruch St. Margarethen is an experience for all senses! Here, a stylish stage for undisturbed receptions, private jubilees as well as representative events with friends or business partners is offered. Our catering partner serves delicious delicacies and fine wines. Bookable for small groups from 2 persons or companies up to 200 persons.


Gastronomy in the foyer


In the large foyer park international specialties and regional delicacies are served. Enjoy the culinary pleasures before the performance and during the break, be it small snacks or hot dishes and sweet delicacies for coffee. The special offer is rounded off by noble wines from the Esterházy vineyard and the winegrowing community "the st. Margarethener".

 

 

Accessibility & Shuttleservice


Accessibility


For people with handicaps, the opera in the Steinbruch offers a special service on site as well as discounts on ticket purchases.


Special parking spaces


Visitors with wheelchairs have their own parking area in the parking lot at the festival grounds. This is assigned by the folder staff on site. We appreciate your understanding that there is only a limited number of parking spaces available.


Barrier-free access


The access to the grounds of the opera in the Steinbruch and to the tribune is via a barrier-free ramp and is therefore also suitable for people with handicaps or wheelchair users.


Accessible toilets


There are barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible toilets on the festival grounds.


Discounts for people with disabilities


People with handicap receive 10% discount for a card on the normal price in all categories (except footless rows). Wheelchair users and their accompanying persons receive a 50% discount on the standard price for the wheelchair spaces defined in the seating plan


Shuttle service from the parking area to the grandstand


People with disabilities and elderly persons with reduced mobility are offered free transportation from the main entrance to the stone quarry to the grandstand. The shuttle bus provided for this purpose is equipped with wheelchair access and is supervised by qualified personnel

 


Traveling from Vienna

 

A2 direction Graz • at junction Guntramsdorf change to A3 direction Eisenstadt / Neusiedler See • exit Eisenstadt Süd, follow the B52 in the direction of St. Margarethen • take the second exit at the next roundabout and follow the road • at the roundabout at the end of St. Margarethen follow the Take the second exit • turn left at the green sign "Festspielgelände" You are located in the parking lot of the opera in the Steinbruch.

 

 


Bad weather


Weatherproof clothing


The performances at the Steinbruch St. Margarethen are open-air and are performed in the open air. The performances take place, if necessary, even in unfavorable weather. For this reason, we advise our guests to wear rainproof, warm clothing and solid shoes in case of bad weather forecast.


Cancellation, postponement and interruption


Cancellation can only take place at the beginning of the performance and can only be pronounced on the spot by the local festival committee. The Festiviteitung reserves the right to postpone the beginning of the introduction or to interrupt the performance due to weather conditions.


Weather report


The current weather report can also be found at www.zamg.ac.at

Accomodation

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