Premiere: ROMABARON brings Roma culture into the spotlight

Premiere: ROMABARON brings Roma culture into the spotlight

On April 11, 2025, the theater collective Hybrid under the direction of Alireza Daryanavard will celebrate the premiere of “ROMABARON – KEIN Z******BARON” in the Tanzquartier, Hall G, in the MuseumsQuartier Vienna. The production represents a reinterpretation of Johann Strauss' operetta from the perspective of the young Romani Saffi. Through a mixture of operetta, Roma music and contemporary sounds, the production aims to address social power relations and discrimination, also focusing on the tragic Roma attacks in Oberwart in 1995. Stefan Horvath will be involved in the production as a contemporary witness.

The musical direction is by Mahan Mirarab, who will weave classical repertoire with modern and traditional Roma sounds. An outstanding ensemble, including singers such as Özlem Bulut, Basma Jabr, Golnar Shahyar and Sakina Teyna, will perform this novel production. The concept, text and direction are by Alireza Daryanavard, while Mahsa Ghafari is responsible for the libretto. Other creative minds behind the scenes include Duha Samir and Ilias Klis (space), Geraldine Massing (costumes), Anna Bauer (lighting design) as well as Reza Majdodin (video) and Triangle Studio (film production).

Guided tour through the topics

The presentation will not only offer depth of content, but also create space for exchange. An audience discussion, moderated by Steffen Jäger, will take place after the second performance. The performances are scheduled for April 11th, 12th and 13th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available via the Johann Strauss 2025 and Tanzquartier Wien websites. This collaboration is supported by funding from the BMKÖS, the City of Vienna Culture, the Future Fund of the Republic of Austria, the SKE Fund Austro Mechana and the District Culture 1050.

The production not only addresses the past, but is part of a larger artistic resistance against discrimination and stereotyping, as discussed in the publication “Resistance through Art”. The book, which serves as an analogue introduction to the digital archive RomArchive, conveys the cultural self-assertion of the Sinti and Roma and shows how art is used to combat prejudice. Edited by Moritz Pankok, Isabel Raabe and Romani Rose, it provides insights into the artistic work of this community.

Insight into the digital platform

RomArchive, a digital platform, has set itself the goal of making the internationality and diversity of Sinti and Roma culture accessible. The archive contains over 5,000 individual objects, including images, audio recordings and videos, that document and celebrate the cultural landscape of this ethnic group. The book title “Resistance through Art” summarizes the arts and cultures of the Sinti and Roma and offers digital interfaces to various areas of the archive.

While the premiere of “ROMABARON – KEIN Z******BARON” is the focus, both projects combine the aim of bringing the history and culture of the Sinti and Roma into the focus of public awareness and creating space for dialogue and understanding.

For further information please visit the websites of Vienna.gv.at and Sinti and Roma Documentation Center.