Leading Team 2025

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LEADING TEAM

JOJI HATTORI, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

Joji Hattori was born in Japan but spent his childhood in Vienna. Hattori is considered one of the most versatile artists today, not only performing on stage himself, but also continually surprising his audiences with original concepts and making a significant contribution to the spread of classical music without resorting to populist crossover ideas. As a conductor, he has worked with many major orchestras and opera houses, including the Philharmonia Orchestra London and the Vienna State Opera.

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DOMINIK AM ZEHNHOFF-SÖNS, STAGE DIRECTOR & CASTING DIRECTOR

The tenor and director who was born in Bonn, Germany, but has chosen to move to Vienna, has built up a considerable reputation as an opera director, especially in the German-speaking world.

His humility towards the composer, his openness, versatility and philosophy as a director, which sets the main focus on pure acting, make him an ideal partner for this project.

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MANFRED WABA, STAGE DESIGNER

Manfred Waba is one of the most renowned set designers in Austria. His creative and meticulously detailed stage designs impress audiences and critics alike. Waba masterfully understands how to enhance the atmosphere of a production through his designs. His designs often break records, such as the "Largest Violin in the World" in 2018 and the "Largest Nativity Scene in the World" in 2024/25, both on the lake stage in Mörbisch; as well as many gigantic stage designs for St. Margarethen. He has received numerous awards for this – including the "Austrian Music Theater Prize for Services to Music Theater" on September 1, 2024.

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JESSICA WURZER, CHOREOGRAPHER

Born in Carinthia, Jessica studied dance and music in Vienna. She is a valued, regular partner of stage director Dominik Am Zehnhoff-Söns because of the variety of styles she has on offer and because of her deep understanding of classical music.

As a dancer and choreographer, she has repeatedly been successful at national, European and world dance championships.

GERA GRAF / ANDREA FISCHER (COSTUME DESIGNERS)
KORDULA LINGLER (HEAD OF HAIR AND MAKEUP)
Elisabeth Vollnhofer (HAIR AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT)
Benjamin Prieger (assistant director)
FLORIAN STANEK (ADAPTATION LIBRETTO)
ANNEGRET RITZEL (DRAMATURGE)
SIMON LOCHER (LIGHTING DESIGN)
DAVORIN MORI (ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR)
AYAKO ONO (REPETITEUR)
Melanie Wurzer (Artistic Production COORDINATOR)
Alexander Medem (stage manager)

Karl Markovics

Giuseppe Verdi

as narrator between the musical numbers
1./3./4./9./10./11./14./16./17./19. July 25

GEORG Leskovich

Giuseppe Verdi

as narrator between the musical numbers
5./18. July 25

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Artists

WHEN THE COMPOSER BECOMES THE NARRATOR - VERDI LEADS US THROUGH LA TRAVIATA

At the Vienna Opera Summer 2025, Oscar actor Karl Markovics slips into the role of Giuseppe Verdi's ghost. Between the acts of La Traviata, he tells the poignant story of the noble courtesan Violetta and brings her closer to the audience in a very special way. Immerse yourself in the emotional world of this opera and experience Verdi's masterpiece with all your senses!

Ensemble

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Cristina Pasaroiu

Violetta Valéry

1./4./9./11./16./18. July 25

Nathalie Pena-Comas

Violetta Valéry

3./5./10./14./17./19. July 25

Liparit Avetisyan

Alfredo Germont

1./3./5./10./17./18. July 25

David Kerber

Alfredo Germont

4./9./11./14./16./19. July 25

Thomas Weinhappel

Giorgio Germont

1./3./5./9./11./14./17./19. July 25

Stepan Drobit

Giorgio Germont

4./10./16./18. July 25

1./3./4./5./9./10./11./14./16./17. July 25

Marquis d’Obigny &
Doktor Grenvil

all performances

Dance ensemble

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ELISABETH BOHAUMILITZKY

Jonathan Rodriguez Vela

Gabriel Wanka

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ORCHESTRA

THE VIENNA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The Vienna Chamber Orchestra was founded in Vienna in 1946. Since then, it has earned an outstanding international reputation and is one of the most widely traveled ensembles in the world, performing in over 80 countries. The long list of artists who have performed with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra includes many major names such as Sandor Vegh, Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Neville Marriner, Adam Fischer, Cecilia Bartoli, Elina Garanca, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder, and others.

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Choir

Philharmonia Choir Vienna

The Philharmonia Chor Wien is under the direction of its founder, Walter Zeh, and is an internationally active professional opera and concert choir. It was founded in 2002 on the initiative of the former artistic director of the Salzburg Festival, Gerard Mortier. Since 2006, this choir has performed as an independent association under the name Philharmonia Chor Wien. The choir has performed under conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, Marc Minkowski, Kent Nagano, Thomas Hengelbrock, Zubin Mehta, Christian Thielemann, and Riccardo Muti, and has performed at venues including the Salzburg Festival, Lucerne Festival, Ravenna Festival, Baden-Baden Easter Festival, the Teatro Real in Madrid, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

This was the 1st Vienna Opera Summer 2024 Belvedere with Mozart's Don Giovanni