Conversion of the State Theater: “We have to get the ‘Vogel Theater’ to fly”
An outlook on the future of the theater and an insight into the current construction site at the Salzburg State Theater. Deputy Governor Heinrich Schellhorn, Artistic Director Carl Philip von Maldeghem and Commercial Director Bernhard Utz invited to the press conference.
SALZBURG. You’ve never seen the Landestheater like this before. The red chairs were torn out, welding and flexing are being carried out. A scaffolding made of aluminum ladders rises into the air. Floor by floor, Deputy Governor Heinrich Schellhorn and Commercial Director Bernhard Utz climb up the steps behind master builder Thomas Zopf until they are under the dome.
Bright neon lights illuminate the corners, the theater ceiling so close you can touch it with ease. All around, the restorers are working on beautifying the exposed gold stucco work from 1893, which was painted over gray in the 1930s.
One of the gilders presses the sheet of paper with the gold leaf onto the stucco on the ceiling and taps it firmly with the brush provided. Finest particles of the golden metal trickle down and sail to the ground.
“These are all specialists who know their trade,” explains Zopf. With his “Architecture Workshop Zopf” he is used to large and unusual construction sites like this one in the Landestheater.
No more creaking balconies in the Salzburg State Theater
One floor below, Knopf shows the new balcony structure that was installed and brought a major improvement. The “old” creaking balcony had disturbed many of Faust’s monologues.
“It no longer creaks,” Utz states with satisfaction. In an interview, he explains the other innovations in the theater. The seating comfort is improved, the legroom the same everywhere. “I’m looking forward to the autumn audience being able to sit in comfortable armchairs and enjoy the performances on a state-of-the-art stage,” interjects Schellhorn.
The old hemp ropes are also a thing of the past, the upper machinery in the stage technology has been renewed – modern media technology has been installed. 3D animations in the sound will be possible here in the future.
The work in the auditorium and in the stage area is now well advanced. In the next few weeks, carpets will be laid and the clean-up work will start. But the theater is also breaking new ground in a more comprehensive way.
Bring new plays to the theater stage
“We have to get the ‘Vogel Theater’ to fly,” says Artistic Director Carl Philip von Maldeghem, who will premiere new plays in the future.
With the theater he would like to promote the development of young artists and accompany the process of writing. In addition, they want to break down the city-rural demarcation and bring productions to the countryside.
Extension for the director
When Carl Philip von Maldeghem took up the position of artistic director at the Salzburg State Theater, the aim was to bring back the “lost audience”.
Under the chairmanship of Deputy Governor Heinrich Schellhorn, the Theater Committee is in favor of extending Maldeghem’s contract for a further five years. “There is a clear opinion in the theater committee. We want to continue on this path together,” says Schellhorn.
Renovation work has been going on in the theater since May 2022. The costs run to 13.6 million euros, which are provided by the state and city of Salzburg.
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