Opern Air at the Wiener Staatsoper
On September 7, 2025, the Vienna State Opera presented its first ever open-air gala concert, Opern Air, in the Burggarten. The event marked the 80th anniversary of the destruction of the Opera House in 1945 and the 70th anniversary of its reopening in 1955. Conducted by Bertrand de Billy, the evening brought together some of the greatest names in opera, including Elīna Garanča, Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Benjamin Bernheim, and Boris Pinkhasovich, alongside the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Among the highlights was the performance of Mozart’s trio Soave sia il vento from Così fan tutte, sung by Opera Studio members Andrei Maksimov, Anita Monserrat, and Hanna-Theres Weigl. In just two and a half minutes, Mozart’s music created a moment of perfect harmony—an atmosphere both intimate and expansive, reaching the thousands gathered in the Burggarten, the audiences watching live on ORF III, and viewers around the world via livestream.