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© Wiener Staatsoper
Le Grand Macabre
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 June 2026 | ||||||
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Le Grand Macabre – György Ligeti | Opera
Opera in two acts
Scene 1 & 2 - 45 min
Intermission - 25 min
Scene 3 & 4 + Finale - 65 min
Storyline
Scene 1
The play is set in the totally run-down yet carefree and prosperous principality of Breughelland in the "so-and-so century".
Piet vom Fass, always slightly drunk (a "wine taster" by profession) and therefore always cheerful, a kind of realistic Sancho Panza, catches sight of the beautiful lovers Amanda and Amando. They are looking for an undisturbed place where they can make love in secret, but this seems difficult to achieve in the always tumultuous Breughelland.
While Piet looks greedily at the couple, Nekrotzar suddenly appears. Nekrotzar, the Great Macabre, is a sinister, shady, demagogic figure, humorless, pompous, with an unshakeable sense of mission. Piet, who knows no horror, mocks Nekrotzar, but he announces that he himself is "Death" and will destroy the whole world tonight with the help of a comet.
He orders Piet to fetch his props - scythe, trumpet, cloak - and to serve him as a servant. The question of whether Piet is willing to do this is not even asked - Nekrotzar is the master and is used to being obeyed without contradiction. Meanwhile, Amanda and Amando retreat to the empty tomb and sleep through the end of the world undisturbed. Nekrotzar rides to the princely capital. The lovers' duet is heard.
Scene 2
In the house of the court astrologer Astradamors: Mescalina is the mistress, who has Astradamors under her unlimited control. At the beginning of the scene, she attacks him, after which Astradamors has to look at the stars. Meanwhile, Mescalina falls asleep sipping red wine and dreams that the goddess Venus is finally sending her a better man.
Finale: Nekrotzar confidently announces the imminent end of the world. Nekrotzar, Piet and Astradamors set off for the princely palace. Astradamors returns once again and sees himself "finally as master in his own house".
Venus does indeed appear and with her Nekrotzar and Piet. Astradamors is delighted to recognize his faithful drinking companion Piet. Nekrotzar approaches Mescalina, embraces her brutally and finally bites her neck like a vampire. She sinks lifelessly to the ground with a hideous scream - Astradamors cheers. Necrotzar orders the corpse to be removed.
Scene 3
Breughelland is ruled by the gluttonous, babyish Prince Go-Go, who is tyrannized by his two corrupt ministers, the leaders of the feuding White and Black parties, who are in no way different from one another. As a result, the affairs of state are conducted in a rather confused manner: The ruling prince has nothing to say, and the two ministers are in constant conflict, constantly threatening to resign, only to reconcile briefly and then fall out all over again. They also force the Prince to perform posture and riding exercises and to "wear the crown with respect". They declare the country's constitution to be empty paper, but at the same time force Go-Go to sign ever new decrees to increase taxes ad infinitum. Prince Go-Go is hungry; he thinks of nothing but food and rejects the ministers for the first time, accepts their resignation and stuffs his mouth. The head of the secret political police ("Gepopo") quickly appears with his entourage. He hands Go-Go a coded message and warns him of the arrival of an angry, demonstrating crowd.
You can hear the people's cries of fear and anger. From the balcony of the throne room, the ministers try to calm the crowd with soothing speeches, but the people call for the prince. The Prince finally speaks to the people and beats up the ministers who are constantly resigning. Suddenly the chief of police appears again. The latest coded message warns of the arrival of a mysterious, threatening figure. The police chief flees in panic, but instead of the dangerous figure, Astradamor appears yodeling merrily, still rejoicing that he has got rid of his wife.
In the meantime, the ministers have also run away. Go-Go and Astradamors sing and dance together. Suddenly an alarm siren wails, then another. Go-Go becomes a child again, he begs for help and Astradamors hides him under the dining table. Necrotzar appears in dark, grandiose pomp. He proclaims confidently and loudmouthed that the end of the world is imminent and declaims twisted, distorted quotes from the Book of Revelation. High above, the "heavenly trumpets" sound.
The people beg Nekrotzar to spare them and he gets caught up in the all-too-earthly hustle and bustle of the Breughellanders. Piet hands him a glass of red wine, and Nekrotzar, in his megalomaniacal obsession, believes he is drinking the blood of his victims, which he needs to strengthen himself so that he can fulfill his "sacred duty". Piet and Astradamors keep topping him up, and the drinking scene becomes increasingly mechanical. Go-Go is also handed one glass of wine after another under the table, and finally all four of them are staggering drunk. Piet introduces the two rulers - Tsar Nekro and Tsar Go-Go - to each other. Suddenly there is an explosion, cries of fear and the ominous glow of the comet. Nekrotzar panics and announces that he is now going to smash the world and falls down drunk.
Scene 4
Piet and Astradamors think they are dead and believe themselves to be in heaven. Staggering, Go-Go appears, feeling that he is alive, but fearing that he is the only person still alive on earth. Three rude warhorses - Ruffiack, Schobiack and Schabernack - appear unexpectedly. They arrest Go-Go as a "civilian" and set about killing him. Suddenly Nekrotzar stands there in all his gauntness. When he recognizes the prince, the three warhorses let Go-Go go.
Weakened by disappointment and alcohol, Nekrotzar wants to die. But suddenly Mescalina appears and pounces on him in a rage. Two warhorses hold Mescalina down and the third brings the two ministers to him. The ministers plead for mercy in a cowardly and mocking manner, as they have only ever had the people's welfare in mind. They and Mescalina accuse each other of inventing astronomical taxes, introducing the Inquisition and plotting to eliminate the prince.
The discussion leads to a general brawl until everyone is lying on the floor. Piet and Astradamors walk in, still thinking they are in heaven. The prince greets them and gives them wine to drink. This is enough for Nekrotzar: out of grief, he begins to shrink, becomes smaller and smaller and finally disappears without a trace. The lovers emerge from the grave in a rather disheveled state.
Final (Passacaglia)
Amanda and Amando know nothing of the supposed end of the world. The final verses are sung by everyone except Nekrotzar: "Fear not death, good people! Someday it will come, but not today. And when it comes, then it's time ... Farewell so long in merriment!"
Program and cast
Nekrotzar – Georg Nigl
Chief of the Secret Police / Venus – Sarah Aristidou
Venus – Sarah Aristidou
Prince Go-Go – Xavier Sabata
Amanda – Maria Nazarova
Amando – Isabel Signoret
Astradamors – Wolfgang Bankl
Mescalina – Marina Prudenskaya
Piet vom Fass – Gerhard Siegel
White Minister – Daniel Jenz
Black Minister – Hans Peter Kammerer
Musical direction – Pablo Heras-Casado
Production & Set design – Jan Lauwers
Costumes – Lot Lemm
Lighting – Ken Hioco
Choreography – Paul Blackman, Jan Lauwers
Dramaturgy – Elke Janssens
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.
© Wiener Staatsoper
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