Glamorous Hollywood flair on the red carpet with international stars such as Asmik Grigorian, Erica Eloff, Philipp Hochmair, Michael Volle and Rolando Villazón. Former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky also congratulated this year’s award winners.
Lois Lammerhuber was awarded the special prize for achievements in music theatre for his work at the Vienna State Opera. The laudatory speech was held by Andreas Walk, his writing partner in many of his works: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words. If this quote were to apply to a single person, then Lois Lammerhuber would be the first contender. His approach to music theatre manifests itself in 14 coffee-table books about the Vienna State Opera. It is, so to speak, a visual survey of one of the largest and most important opera houses in the world – from the stars of the stage to the last stalls of the rehearsal stage at the back’. The trophy – produced by Gmundner Keramik – was presented by Mario Pernkopf, master of the Vienna Professional Photography Guild.
In the course of his acceptance speech, Lammerhuber explained why he believes he is honoured to be standing here: ‘Photography is there to make the visible visible and to make discoveries where everything is seemingly already known. This idea of the Hungarian photographic artist Laszlo Moholy Nagy has been inscribed in my heart since I began to live photography.
And it was necessary, because anyone who, like me, enjoyed the privilege of walking through the dividing wall of the stage door into the Haus am Ring for 14 years – until the pandemic changed everything – enters a very special place.
In this magical world of creativity, I was allowed to make a book every year. Dominique Meyer, the long-time director of the Vienna State Opera, called it a ‘kind of encyclopaedia about theatre using the Vienna State Opera as a case study’. In other words: we showed everything that you can’t see by buying a ticket, the stage curtain was, so to speak, the red line of what we were doing.
14 years, 14 books: from the chorus to the costume workshops to the ballet. Each theme was special. But three were even more unique:
CREATION about Der Ring des Nibelungen for children by Matthias von Stegmann – in other words, Wagner’s entire Ring in one hour!
Then CLOSE UP, a book that brings together all the premieres of the Ioan Holender era, commented on by Holenderhimself – premiere by premiere. They were great stories about everything that had gone wrong. But then, every now and then, everything was perfect. Then there was nothing to tell: ‘What do you want? Everyone was healthy and on time, sang marvellously, great applause’ …
And then, of course, GENESIS: how does a world premiere, a new production come about? Never before have I heard Dominique Meyer speak more intimately.”
At the end of his speech, Lammerhuber asked the audience to pose for a group photo. His argument: he doesn’t believe that the illustrious guests have been photographed from the stage even once in the last 12 years of the award. And he sees this as a première. In this sense, Lammerhuber also sees this award as a tribute to photography in Austria.
Following the glittering ceremony, the award winners celebrated at the artists’ party at the Fuhrgassl-Huber winery, where Viennese wines were served to toast the extraordinary stage moments, the radiant award winners and the new season.
There were standing ovations for the doyen of operetta Harald Serafin, who was honoured for his life’s work, and the celebrated Jedermann of the Salzburg Festival Philipp Hochmair, who was honoured just a few days ago by the Kitzbühel Film Festival for his achievements in front of the camera. The audience bowed to Asmik Grigorian just as lovingly as they bowed to him and Austria in their acceptance speech.
‘Year after year, the Austrian Music Theatre Award shows how important and vibrant music theatre culture is in this country. It is always a great pleasure to honour those artists whose tireless commitment and exceptional talent turn our stage productions throughout Austria into unforgettable experiences,’ emphasises initiator and President Karl-Michael Ebner.
Music Theatre Award special offer
If you would like to purchase the award-winning books, you now have the unique opportunity to receive a third book free of charge when you buy two. Simply order two books in our webshop by clicking on the titles of your choice. Please let us know the title of the third book of your choice by sending an e-mail to edition@lammerhuber.at.
2007: METAMORPHOSEN – Transforming the Vienna State Opera into a ballroom
2008: CREATION – Wagner’s Nibelungenring for Children
2009: DIE WIENER STAATSOPER – The musical and architectural jewel
2010: IOAN HOLENDER – CLOSE UP – 118 Premieres
2011: PASSION – Wiener Staatsopernorchester – Wiener Philharmoniker
2012: [E]MOTION – Wiener Staatsballett Backstage
2013: GLAMOUR – The magical world of costumes
2014: ON STAGE – Gigantic stage technology and pure opera stage magic!
2015: HARMONY – Ensemble 2014/2015
2016: GENESIS – The new production of Gaetano Donizetti’s ‘Don Pasquale’
2017: CHORUS – The Vienna State Opera Chorus
2018: REPERTOIRE – The world’s largest repertoire
2019: BEL CANTO – The 150 most significant singers
2020: GESAMTKUNSTWERK Wiener Staatsoper [Backstage]
