The Water Sprite from Grundlsee

As a “crossover” project of this year’s Aussee Baroque Days, the world premiere of a commissioned opera “Der Wassermann vom Grundlsee”, accompanying the year of the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024, will take place on the theme of “Salt and Water”. The story is based on the ancient, mystical legend about the discovery of salt deposits in Ausseerland The exciting plot involves a water sprite who is caught in a fishing net and, as he jumps back into the water, points in the direction of Mount Sandling, where the region’s salt deposits were discovered. The libretto also includes a dramatisation of the formation of the Ausseerland landscape, covered millions of years ago by a sea that left fossilised ammonites, salt and water in the area.

The renowned composer of opera, Vanni Moretto, who has already successfully performed several sieiner operas in Europe, will conduct the opera in person. The leading roles of the opera will be performed by young artists from the Musikuniversität Mozarteum Salzburg The choir is made up of talented local singers. The director Andreas Weirich, stage manager and director at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, has been recruited. The stage design is by Magdalena Hofer (Salzburg) and the costumes by Larissa von Planta (Switzerland, Salzburg and London). The open-air project will be premiered three times on the shores of Lake Grundlsee: Sunday 11/08; Monday 12/08 and Tuesday 13/08 at 20:30h at the outdoor pool Archkogl (alternative date 14/08 or sports hall Narzissendorf).