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© Wiener Staatsoper
Animal Farm
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June 2026 | ||||||
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Act 1: 65 min
Intermission: 25 min
Act 2: 45 min
Synopsis
Act 1
Farmer Jones molests his wife in a drunken stupor. At night, his animals gather to listen to the old boar Old Major. He makes the animals aware of their enslavement by humans and teaches them the revolutionary song "Beasts of Farmland". The animals have very different attitudes to Old Major's thoughts. Raven Blacky holds out the prospect of a post-revolutionary life "like on the rock candy mountain". With the courage of despair, the animals rebel against the brutalization of their master.
The rebellion is successful. The completely surprised farmer couple is driven off the farm. The revolutionaries declare the former manor farm an animal farm. The two pigs Snowball and Napoleon proclaim the seven commandments of animalism, which guarantee equality for all. They are written on the barn wall and popularized in the slogan "Four legs good, two legs bad". When Benjamin the donkey asks who should receive the milk, Squealer the pig explains that it must go to the pigs to strengthen them in their fight against Jones' return.
The farmer couple's attempt to recapture the farm with the help of supporters from the neighboring farm of farmer Pilkington can be thwarted despite losses. The draught horse Boxer, who has fought particularly bravely, is honored by Napoleon as an "Animal Hero 1st Class". Napoleon also bestows the award on himself. The mare Mollie succumbs to the seduction of Pilkington's gifts and secretly leaves the farm. Snowball and Napoleon disagree on all leadership issues.
The construction of a windmill propagated by Snowball, which could make the animals' work easier and raise their standard of living, is thwarted by Napoleon: The order of the day was military rearmament. Their conflict escalates. Snowball has to flee. Napoleon denounces him as a traitor, declares himself chairman of the Pig Committee and, as such, orders the construction of the windmill after all. He also announces the establishment of trade relations with Pilkington - although these had previously been forbidden to the animals. Rumors also circulate that the pigs have moved into the empty farmhouse.
Muriel the goat, who knows the scriptures, is asked to read out the commandment that forbids animals from sleeping in beds. However, the inscription now only prohibits the use of bed covers. The windmill is destroyed by storm and lightning. Napoleon blames Snowball's sabotage. He sentences him to death.
Act 2
Napoleon's henchmen assassinate Snowball as an alleged "secret agent". His alleged accomplices are paraded in show trials and bloodily massacred. The mare Clover sees all her efforts to build a just community called into question. The animals try to find reflection and solace by singing "Beasts of Farmland" together, but the song is banned by Napoleon.
The artist Pigetta, who wants to refuse Squealer, is massacred. When Muriel wants to read the commandment that forbids the killing of an animal by another animal, she deciphers the restrictive words, only if this is done "without reason". The poetic pig Minimus celebrates Napoleon in a song of praise.
Napoleon receives the news that Pilkington has accused him of fraud and is attacking the windmill with his men. The animals are able to repel the invaders, but the windmill is blown up in the process. Napoleon celebrates his victory despite heavy losses among the animals. A toast is raised to the fallen. The animals are no longer forbidden to drink any alcohol, only excessive alcohol consumption.
Boxer collapses under the strain of rebuilding. The animals are unable to prevent his transportation to the knacker. Squealer, who claims to have accompanied Boxer to the vet in the hope of a cure, gives them his supposed last words: "Long live Napoleon! Napoleon is always right!" Benjamin has Muriel read out the last commandment left on the barn wall. It reads: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal."
Program and cast
OPERA in three acts, nine scenes & an epilogue
by ALEXANDER RASKATOV
Text IAN BURTON & ALEXANDER RASKATOV after GEORGE ORWELL
Musical Direction: Alexander Soddy
Direction: Damiano Michieletto
Stage Design: Paolo Fantin
Costumes: Klaus Bruns
Choreography: Thomas Wilhelm
Lighting Design: Alessandro Carletti
Dramaturgy: Wout van Tongeren; Luc Joosten
Old Major: GENNADY BEZZUBENKOV
Napoleon: WOLFGANG BANKL
Snowball: MICHAEL GNIFFKE
Squealer: ANDREI POPOV
Boxer: STEFAN ASTAKHOV
Benjamin/Young Actress: KARL LAQUIT
Minimus: ARTEM KRUTKO
Clover: MARGARET PLUMMER
Muriel: ISABEL SIGNORET
Blacky: ELENA VASSILIEVA
Mollie: HOLLY FLACK
Mr Jones: DANIEL JENZ
Ms Jones: JENNI HIETALA
Mr Pilkington: CLEMENS UNTERREINER
Photo gallery
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Vienna State Opera
Public Transport
Subway lines: U1, U2, U4
Trams: 1, 2, D, J, 62, 65
Buses: 59A
Local Railway: Badner Bahn
Stops: Karlsplatz / Opera
Taxi stands are available nearby.
Parking
Parking is only € 6, - for eight hours!
The Wiener Staatsoper and the ÖPARK Kärntner Ring Garage on Mahlerstraße 8, under the “Ringstraßengalerien”, offer the patrons of the Vienna State Opera a new, reduced parking fee. You can park in the Kärntner Ring Garage for up to 8 hours and pay only a flat fee of € 6, -. Just validate your ticket at one of the discount machines inside the Wiener Staatsoper. The normal rate will be charged for parking time greater than 8 hours. The validation machines can be found at the following coat checks: Operngasse, Herbert von Karajan-Platz, and the right and left and balcony galleries.
Important: In order to get the discount, please draw a ticket and do not use your credit card when entering the garage!
After devaluing your ticket in the Wiener Staatsoper you can pay comfortably by credit card or cash at the vending machines.
The machines accept coins and bills up to 50.- Euro. Parking time longer than 8 hours will be charged at the normal rate.
History
The structure of the opera house was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll. It was also impacted by other major artists such as Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the foyer, and the famous "Zauberflöten" (“Magic Flute”) series of frescoes on the veranda. Neither of the architects survived to see the opening of ‘their’ opera house: the sensitive van der Nüll committed suicide, and his friend Sicardsburg died of a stroke soon afterwards.
On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The popularity of the building grew under the artistic influence of the first directors: Franz von Dingelstedt, Johann Herbeck, Franz Jauner, and Wilhelm Jahn. The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and also utilized the experience of other noteworthy artists, such as Alfred Roller, for the formation of new stage aesthetics.
The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.
On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the “State Opera in the Volksoper” opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored “Theaters an der Wien” reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense.
The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology. Under the direction of Karl Böhm, Beethoven’s FIDELIO was brilliantly performed, and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by Austrian television. The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.
Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. It has been under the direction of Dominique Meyer since September 1, 2010.
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