The deadline from the official approval to occupy 500 seats until the start of the festival on Boxing Day was extremely short. But the concept of Artistic Director Bernd Loebe worked: a mix of rarely performed opera jewels by famous composers – Pietro Mascagni's "L'amico Fritz" and Adolphe Adam's "Le postillon de Lonjumeau" – with the well-known Erl fixtures. These include the New Year's Eve, New Year's and closing concerts as well as the performances by Franui, Franz Hackl and the Tölzer Boys' Choir, supported by chamber singer Brigitte Fassbaender, who read a Christmas story from "Buddenbrooks". The operas in particular proved to be a crowd magnet.

Internally, around 1,500 antigen and PCR tests were conducted in-house from November 2021 onwards, and 143 vaccine doses were also administered. For the festival management, regular testing of all persons in the operation, the free vaccination offer and the strict safety rules represented the only way to protect all participants and guests. "Fortunately, we had no infection that would have had an impact on the productions or endangered the safety of our guests. Thus we could welcome all visitors to Erl with a clear conscience and present our artistic program to them," rejoices Commercial Director Natascha Müllauer.

Artistic Director Bernd Loebe adds: "I am particularly pleased that the performed opera rarities received extremely positive response from both audience and media alike. We will continue on this path in Erl."