Der Zarewitsch

The young heir to the throne, Alyosha, is deeply unhappy and lonely. On the one hand, he has withdrawn into his palace; on the other, he longs for nothing more than a person who truly understands him.

At last, he meets this “angel” who breaks through his emotional armor. But can love endure in a world shaped by constraints? In 1927, The Tsarevich premiered in Berlin. In his later work, Lehár increasingly moved closer to opera; The Tsarevich also has little in common with the dance- and jazz-influenced operettas of its time and is permeated with melancholy. Yet humor is not neglected, thanks to the comic duo Ivan and Mascha, who experience their own lively love story within the operetta.

The Dutch director and artist Steef de Jong relocates the story—originally set in Russia—into a universal fairy-tale world and focuses entirely on the slowly blossoming love story. Through beautiful and imaginative drawings and animations, filmed live and projected, as well as cardboard stage sets, an aesthetic universe emerges that combines operetta, visual art, and animated film—perfectly matching Lehár’s music and brought to life by just four singers, along with the orchestra and chorus of the Volksoper.

program

Der Zarewitsch
Operette von Franz Lehár

Libretto von Bela Jenbach und Heinz Reichert

Spielfassung und Neufassung der Dialoge von Jürgen Bauer

In deutscher Sprache mit deutschen und englischen Übertiteln

Place

Volksoper Vienna – A Musical Theater of Tradition, Diversity, and Joy

The Volksoper Vienna is one of Austria’s leading opera houses and an essential part of Vienna’s vibrant cultural scene. Renowned for its diverse program, which includes opera, operetta, musicals, and ballet, it provides high-quality entertainment appealing to audiences of all ages.

Since its opening in 1898, the Volksoper has delighted visitors with charming productions, outstanding artists, and a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Among the classics regularly performed are world-famous operettas such as Johann Strauss’s "Die Fledermaus" or Franz Lehár’s "The Merry Widow," along with renowned operas, musicals, and contemporary performances.

The Volksoper is celebrated for its lively atmosphere and audience-friendly performances, focusing equally on entertainment and musical excellence.

Getting There by Public Transport

Subway:

• U6 Station Währinger Straße – Volksoper – direct access

• Lines 40, 41, 42 (Währinger Straße/Volksoper stop) – directly in front of the venue

• Line 40A (Währinger Straße/Volksoper stop)