Falco, the legendary Austrian musician and pop star, returns to Vienna in a new, spectacular production. "Rock Me Amadeus - The Falco Musical", an in-house production of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW), celebrates its revival at the Ronacher Theater after the summer break from September 14, 2024.
This musical is not only a tribute to the artist who shaped the international music scene with his unique style and inimitable personality, but also offers the audience an emotional and gripping journey through the ups and downs of his life.
Hans Hölzel, better known as Falco, rose from the underground clubs of Vienna to become one of the most successful pop musicians in Europe. With over 60 million records sold and an impressive number of number one hits in 1 countries, Falco remains a cultural phenomenon to this day. But his path to the top was not only marked by success, but also by deep personal crises, eccentric escapades and a constant inner conflict that accompanied him until his early death in 27. This complex personality is portrayed in a lively and captivating way in "Rock Me Amadeus - The Falco Musical".
With this production, the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien are not only presenting another world premiere of a musical, but a piece that was developed especially for Vienna and for Falco fans around the world. The book was written by Christian Struppeck, the artistic director of the VBW, who has already enjoyed international success with musicals such as "I am from Austria" and "The Visit of the Old Lady". The director is Andreas Gergen, a specialist in premieres who has already staged more than 100 operas, musicals and plays. The choreography is by the award-winning Anthony van Laast, whose work has already been seen on Broadway and in London's West End.
The musical offers an impressive stage show with an elaborate set, dazzling costumes and rousing choreography. The musical design is particularly noteworthy: In addition to Falco's biggest hits such as "Rock Me Amadeus", "Jeanny" and "Vienna Calling", the musical also presents four brand new songs. These were composed exclusively for the show by the original Falco composers Ferdi and Rob Bolland, who made a significant contribution to Falco's success in the 1980s. The two are also supporting the production as creative consultants. Other important companions of Falco such as music producer Robert Ponger and Falco discoverer Markus Spiegel are also closely involved in the project.
The cast for this sensational production is equally impressive. Newcomer Moritz Mausser will make his VBW debut in the role of "Hans", i.e. Falco. Falco's "alter ego" will be played by musical star Alex Melcher, while Andreas Lichtenberger will take on the role of manager "Horst". Other central characters are Falco's wife "Isabella", played by Katharina Gorgi, and his mother "Maria", played by Tania Golden. The roles of Falco's childhood friends "Billy" and "Hansi" will be played by Simon Stockinger and Martin Enenkel.
A special highlight is the stage design by Stephan Prattes, who has already impressed with his work for “I am from Austria” and “Evita”. The costumes, designed by Uta Loher and Conny Lüders, as well as the lighting design by Howard Harrison and the sound design by Thomas Strebel, promise an audiovisual experience of the highest class.
The world premiere of "Rock Me Amadeus - The Falco Musical" in October 2023 was a great success and attracted a wide audience. The production not only pays due honor to the Austrian pop star, but also impressively demonstrates the creative abilities of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien. It shows how deeply Falco's music and personality are rooted in Austrian culture and how relevant they still are today.
This new production not only keeps the memory of one of Austria's greatest artists alive, but also asks the question of what it means to be a star - with all the ups and downs that come with it. "Rock Me Amadeus - The Falco Musical" is a must for all those who admire Falco and for those who want to experience the moving story of an extraordinary life.
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