The fateful life of the beautiful Empress Sissi has moved people all over the world for generations. To Austrians, she is the revered 'Empress of Hearts' to Hungarians, the 'Guardian Angel' of the country. Even more than a hundred years after her death, interest in Sissi - who was born Elisabeth of Bavaria - continues.
Without any obligations, Elisabeth spent her childhood with her parents and siblings at Possenhofen Castle on Lake Starnberg. It was in Bad Ischl, at the age of 15, that she first met the 23-year-old Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, who instantly fell in love with the impetuous girl. The love romance and spontaneous engagement were followed by a luxurious wedding in the Augustinian Church in Vienna. From the outside, her life resembled a dream.
However, the darker side of courtly life became apparent early on. The freedom-loving Sissi had to come to terms with the customs and practices of the imperial court. Amidst political strife between Austria and Hungary, the young inexperienced monarch finds herself struggling to cope with a domineering mother-in-law, a tirelessly working husband, and the responsibilities of political life.
As in the world-famous films starring Romy Schneider, the musical depicts the great imperial epoch in the Alpine republic - fame, glamour, wealth and the dissolute lifestyle at court, extravagant fashion, jewellery and extraordinary hair designs. Original settings - such as the baroque Schönbrunn Palace, the romantic mountains of the Salzkammergut, Possenhofen Palace or the Hungarian Pusz Valley - are conjured up on stage using state-of-the-art lighting and projection technology. Over 140 costumes were made in Vienna for this production, based on the original patterns.
Composer George Amade created an impressive score to go with it. He conjures up the swing of the operetta and the waltz on stage, just as the world knows it from the Vienna Opera Ball or the New Year's concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. George Amade created for it sounds of the Viennese ballrooms, among other things of Johann Strauss and Johannes Brahms as well as the Hungarian Csárdás with modern songs to one of the most rousing musicals of our time.
During the over two-hour performance the spectators are transported 160 years back in history and have the possibility to be a part of this magnificent production. The world-class cast also guarantees an imperial evening of musicals.
Text source and further information about this event:
http://www.sissi-musical.com/
