"La Traviata“ by Giuseppe Verdi and "The Csardas Princess" by Emmerich Kalman will be performed at an open air concert on 2nd and 3rd July in Bad Neuenahr. Entitled, ‘Ahrtal Classics’, visitors to the spa town will be treated to two spectacular stage productions: on Friday 2nd July 2004, ‘La Traviata’ and then on Saturday 3rd July, ‘The Csardas Princess’. The prestigiousness of the occasion is emphasized by the patronage of Kurt Beck, the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Following the success of ‘Nabucco’ in 2002 and ‘Aida’ in 2003, it is now the turn of another Giuseppe Verdi opera, ‘La Traviata’ to make its debut at the Spa Garden in Bad Neuenahr. First-rate singers from the Arena di Verona and leading German stage companies will be accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra from the Plovdiv State Opera, conducted by Maestro Diego Crovetti. As well as relishing this musical spectacular, the audience will also be given a feast for their eyes with extravagant stage scenery and costumes. After strolling through pre-Christian Babylon with ‘Nabucco’ and ancient Egypt with ‘Aida’, ‘La Traviata’ takes us back to the modern age. The opera is set in and around Paris in the 1850s. The story evolves around the cocotte, Violetta, who meets her true love and then tragically dies of consumption, and is based on the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, ‘Die Kameliendame’ (Lady of the Camellias). The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave.

The following Saturday evening, 3rd July 2004, the performance of ‘The Csardas Princess’ by Emmerich Kalman will be less tragic, more vibrant and with a happy ending. Based on the libretto by Leo Stein and Bela Jenbach, the Hungarian composed his melodies around a story of forbidden love between the duke’s son and the cabaret artiste. Among them were some very catchy tunes, such as ‘Machen wir's den Schwalben nach, bau' n wir uns ein Nest’ or the song, ‘Tanzen möchte ich, jauchzen möchte ich!’, which is also in the form of a waltz.

These pieces will also be played by musicians from the Plovdiv Symphony Orchestra conducted by Diego Crovetti.

As in the previous year, tickets are on sale for between €38.50 and €60.50 per performance with package deals for two nights’ stay from €132 including mid-range tickets. For further enquiries please contact:

Tourismus & Service-Center, 53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Felix-Rütten-Straße 2, Tel.: + 49 2641 977 30
E-Mail: info@wohlsein365.de