Backstage Vienna State Opera

AT 2019, 94 min, Stephanus Domanig

Accompanied by Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila,” workers rise from the understage to set up the world that is a stage. These men and women toil in shifts from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the Vienna State Opera, sometimes making a thundering racket in the empty theater and then working as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing rehearsals or performances. They’re vital to the operation of one of the largest opera houses in the world.

Stephanus Domanig’s film BACKSTAGE VIENNA STATE OPERA takes a look behind the scenes at this cultural institution, portraying the variety of work done there, most of it invisible, that enables the world-renowned singers, conductors and musicians to delight their audience. The film focuses on the employees behind, next to and underneath the stage who keep the huge, complex operation going. And there’s a considerable number of them. They provide an in-depth survey of their work, giving the film’s viewers an idea of everything that’s necessary for productions to be successful and run smoothly. The opera house not only enjoys an excellent reputation, performances take place every day of the year except for two (“Christmas and Good Friday”) and an impressive 99% of its seats are sold.