HANDCRAFTED
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES
The opera stage can be compared to an iceberg: Only a small part of the work actually takes place on stage and is visible to the audience. Most of the work is done unseen in the background. The singers study their scores in rehearsal rooms, as do the musicians. Around them, a variety of different professions work on the success of a production. The Tiroler Festspiele Erl employs around 45 staff members year-round. All other participants come to Erl for the respective production.
Costume Manufactory
When an opera is reinterpreted, one of the first questions is not only about the casting, but also about the appearance of the new production. Costume designers make a crucial contribution by implementing their ideas visually and on the singers' bodies. The costumes are of crucial importance: they must not only support the concept of the production, but also literally carry the singer through the piece. Almost all costumes that you see on the stages of the Tiroler Festspiele Erl are made on site and by hand.
The staff of the costume manufactory create elegant robes, well-fitting suits and imaginative garments. At the beginning is the fabric selection and design. This is followed by the production - in several fittings it is ensured that the costume fits perfectly. In the evening of the performance, the soloists are dressed in their dressing rooms. After the performance, the costumes are cleaned and prepared for the next performance. After the festival, the costumes find their place in the costume fund - until the revival, which can sometimes take place several years after the premiere.
Stage Technology
Our stage technicians ensure the smooth running of the performances. The often black-clad ladies and gentlemen are experts in their respective professional fields. For the audience, they remain almost always invisible. Among other things, they ensure the quick assembly and disassembly of stage sets during the festival, so that different productions can be shown on two consecutive days. Many stage sets are manufactured in our in-house workshops and stored behind the stage. Since space was always in short supply, the workshop and storage area has been considerably expanded since February 2019.
The hall in the Festspielhaus is designed so that it can be adapted to different playing situations: Depending on whether an opera, a single instrument or chamber music is to be heard, the acoustics of the room can be changed. Wooden sound reflectors are used, which are attached to the ceiling of the Festspielhaus. The freestanding walls made of Canadian acacia wood also make a crucial contribution to the great acoustics.