The Theater an der Wien: Comeback after successful renovation!

The Theater an der Wien: Comeback after successful renovation!

In the heart of Vienna, everything revolves around cultural renewal! The traditional one Theater an der Wien looks back on an impressive history and is back after an extensive general renovation. On October 12, 2025, the opera house, now known as the Musiktheater an der Wien, will open with a grand ceremony. But full operations will not resume until 2026! In its 223-year history, the theater has undergone numerous transformations - from the birthplace of Beethoven's "Fidelio" to a center for musical successes such as "Cats" and "Elisabeth".

The directing duo Halper and Krösche are active in the digital world and are exploring new boundaries in theater. The team began the “Uninvited Guests” project in 2019, which deals with the digital life stories of deceased people. During the corona pandemic, the captivating hyperlink installation “404-Totlink” was created, which takes everyone into the forgotten digital worlds of the 1990s. Their latest work, “[EOL],” allows audiences to navigate an orphaned metaverse equipped with VR headsets while making their own decisions about preserving these forgotten digital spaces. “There is nothing better than collective breathing in the theater,” says Krösche, while Halper points out that digital formats can never replace the liveliness of analog theater.

Transformation and challenges

As the The press reported, the Musiktheater an der Wien is committed to experimenting with new artistic concepts in order to maintain cultural relevance and win back audiences. The new artistic director Stefan Herheim is focusing on works from the 19th century and a return to the opera theme, a step that brings with it both opportunities and challenges. At a time when digital theater has lost popularity, the question arises as to whether audiences will be willing to devote themselves to analog theater again in the future.

With technology, Halper and Krösche also play a crucial role in the discussion about the future of art. The use of artificial intelligence could revolutionize creative processes, but warnings about the possible devaluation of human creativity are inevitable. “We need to make sure that the art we leave to our children is not just AI-generated,” emphasizes Halper, while extolling the essence of artistic work and its human dimension.