The Seefestspiele Mörbisch , originally: Seespiele Mörbisch , is an annual operetta festival in Mörbisch am See (Austria). With around 150,000 visitors, the Mörbisch Lake Festival is the world's largest festival of the operetta genre. In addition to operettas, classical musicals are also performed on an irregular basis. Above all, the natural scenery of Neusiedler See is always incorporated into the stage set. The area is very flat, so transmission technology specially developed for the Lake Festival is used.
40-479: The creation and development of the Seespiele Mörbisch was dominated by considerations of tourism policy. When, from 1953 onwards, efforts were made to develop Burgenland's tourism and to transform the visiting and transit area into a place to stay and relax, Lake Neusiedl and the lakeside communities were at the centre of these efforts. In the municipality of Mörbisch am See, the road between Rust and Mörbisch
80-564: A minor part out of deference to the Austrian press and the 'neutralism' policy of the federal government (the July Revolt of 1927 was not even mentioned). Nevertheless, also regular sportscasts began in 1928 and in 1930 the Austrian legislative election was comprehensively covered. At that time, RAVAG registered about 500,000 listeners, having become a mass medium . In the course of the abolition of
120-529: A monthly fee of two schillings . Radio programmes often aimed at an educated audience, featuring classical music, literature, and lectures. Early RAVAG shows, however, already catered to children and "arts and crafts" (e.g. Bastelstunde ). The first outside broadcasts aired in 1925, transmitted from the Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival . On the other hand, news broadcasts only played
160-674: A new sound system developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology [ de ] and also in use at the Bregenz Festival was put into operation. This makes directional listening possible despite the size of the stage. For several years the premiere of the Seefestspiele was broadcast by the ORF . With the 2013 season, however, this practice was ended. In 2018, specially staged performances for children were shown for
200-685: A powerful transmitter, designed by the German Telefunken company, was installed on the roof of the former War Ministry building in Ringstraße in central Vienna. It was, however, the public Radio-Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft ('Radio Communication Company Ltd', RAVAG), a joint venture of the Austrian Federal Government , the City of Vienna and several bank companies, which, in February 1924,
240-601: A result, some loopholes such as removing the antenna or tuner from television sets in order to declare them "GIS-Free" and hence exempt from the GIS fee (declared legal in a report to the Austrian Parliament in 2008, and confirmed as such by the Supreme Administrative Court of Austria in 2015, hence creating a market for selling regular and smart TVs without built-in antennas or tuners ) will be closed under
280-457: Is a city in the Austrian state of Burgenland , located on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl near the border with Hungary . With only about 1,900 inhabitants, it is the country's smallest statutory city , as it was endowed with the rights of a royal free city by the Hungarian crown in 1681. As a Statutarstadt , it also forms an administrative district ( Bezirk ) in its own right. The city
320-497: Is a supporter of the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) initiative that is promoting and establishing an open European standard for hybrid set-top boxes for the reception of broadcast TV and broadband multimedia applications with a single user interface. From 6 March 1995 ORF broadcasts 24 hours a day. The ORF has one regional studio in each state, where each state produces its own radio and state television, which
360-506: Is an Austrian national public broadcaster . Funded from a combination of television licence fee revenue and limited on-air advertising, ORF is the dominant player in the Austrian broadcast media. Austria was the last country in continental Europe after Albania to allow nationwide private television broadcasting, although commercial TV channels from neighbouring Germany have been present in Austria on pay-TV and via terrestrial overspill since
400-643: Is available exclusively via internet: this is Ö1 Inforadio which relays all of Ö1's news content and fills the 'gaps', during which Ö1 is transmitting music and cultural programmes, with additional news broadcasts. A version of Ö1 is broadcast internationally via short wave (and satellite in Europe) as Ö1 International . Its schedule includes a small number of programmes in English and Spanish. An additional service, Radio 1476 , formerly broadcast on medium wave each evening from 18.00 until just after midnight. Its schedule
440-615: Is broadcast over ORF2. The regional studio in Tyrol , also produces regional television and radio for the German-speaking population of South Tyrol , Italy. Even though each state has its own studio, most ORF productions are heavily focused on Vienna, since most shows are made there. The ORF is funded by a television license fee, which since 1998 has been administered by its subsidiary Gebühren Info Service [ de ] (GIS). The amount payable differs by state. As of 2022, Styria has
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#1732902414165480-501: Is famous for its wines , especially for Beerenauslese , ice wine and - especially - Ruster Ausbruch . The settlement was first mentioned as Ceel in a 1317 deed issued by King Charles I of Hungary , its name derived from Hungarian szil for Elm , later translated into German Rüster or Rusten . The present-day Hungarian name Ruszt is again a translation from the German term. Rust's citizens received market rights in 1470 and
520-606: The COVID-19 pandemic in Austria . The production of West Side Story planned for 2020 was postponed to 2021. The stage decoration includes a 14 m high Statue of Liberty and the typical Manhattan brick buildings with fire escape, water elevator and neon advertising sign Nylon on the roof. Sources 47°45′14″N 16°41′56″E / 47.75389°N 16.69889°E / 47.75389; 16.69889 Rust, Burgenland Rust ( German pronunciation: [ʁʊst] ; Croatian : Rušta ; Hungarian : Ruszt )
560-766: The First Austrian Republic and the implementation of the Austrofascist Ständestaat by Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß in 1934, the RAVAG studios were armed during the Austrian Civil War in February, as well as by the protagonists of the Nazi July Putsch , when several insurgents entered the studio and had Dollfuß's resignation announced (he actually was killed in his occupied Chancellery office). Dollfuß's successor Kurt Schuschnigg (1897–1977) had
600-567: The Munich region, but also promoted the live transmission of mass celebrations. With the Austrian Anschluss to Nazi Germany and the invasion of Wehrmacht troops in 1938, RAVAG was dissolved and replaced by Reichssender Wien subordinate to the national Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft network ( Großdeutscher Rundfunk from 1939) in Berlin , where programmes were also produced from. One of
640-533: The Österreichischer Musiktheaterpreis 2020 [ de ] , the Seefestspiele received the prize for the best youth and children's musical theatre production for Land of Smiles for Children . From 1995 to 2008, Rudolf Bibl was musical director , and was appointed honorary member of the festival in 2013. With a total of twelve seasons, The Gypsy Baron is by far the most frequently performed operetta in Mörbisch. The 2020 Festival had to be cancelled due to
680-485: The Österreichischer Rundfunk GmbH , forerunner of today's ORF. The former Ö2 has been replaced by nine regional channels (one for each Bundesland , or federal state): All of these radio channels are broadcast terrestrially on FM and via the digital service of the SES Astra satellites at 19.2° east . All of ORF's domestic radio channels are also streamed over the internet. An extra 24-hour all-news channel
720-531: The 1980s. The first unregulated test transmissions in Austria began on 1 April 1923 by Radio Hekaphon , run by the radio pioneer and enthusiast Oskar Czeija [ de ] (1887–1958), who applied for a radio licence in 1921; first in his telephone factory in the Brigittenau district of Vienna , later in the nearby TGM technical college. On 2 September, it aired a first broadcast address by Austrian President Michael Hainisch (1858–1940). One year later,
760-717: The American English-speaking 'Blue Danube' armed forces network (BDN; not to be confused with the later Blue Danube Radio ) and the British Forces Network (BND), which became quite popular with younger Austrian listeners. The RAVAG/Radio Wien transmissions were limited to the Eastern Austrian Soviet occupation zone, and as the Cold War progressed was increasingly considered Communist propaganda broadcasting. Several other radio stations began broadcasting in
800-686: The German Reichspost . In World War II , listening to Feindsender ('enemy radio stations') became a capital offence, however, such stations such as the Swiss Radio Beromünster as well as the German-language programmes of the BBC , Voice of America (VOA) and Vatican Radio , were widely used information sources. Reichssender Wien transmissions were important for strategic bombing alerts. The Funkhaus broadcasting centre itself
840-514: The Stars . The most popular comedy show on ORF is Wir sind Kaiser ('We Are Emperor') with comedian Robert Palfrader playing Emperor Robert Heinrich I, inviting celebrity guests to make fun of them. The best known news anchors are talk show host Ingrid Thurnher [ de ] who was given seven Romy awards as most popular presenter; Armin Wolf who is best known for his hard-hitting interviews on
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#1732902414165880-482: The community organised a so-called Night and Lake Festival , which was attended by 6000 guests. The programme offered night rides in decorated motorboats, music was provided by dance bands, Viennese artists performed a complete cabaret programme, and folk song and dance groups also performed. In 1957, the Burgenland press announced the first highlight of the development of Mörbisch into a Burgenland tourist centre through
920-572: The construction of a lakeside hotel.. und der Abhaltung von Seespielen an und damit verbunden den Beginn eines neuen Abschnitts burgenländischen Wirtschafts- und Kulturaufstiegs. The initiative for the Seespiele , founded in the years 1955–1957, came from the celebrated chamber singer Herbert Alsen (among others) at the Vienna State Opera (1906–1978), who, together with his wife, the costume designer Gisela Bossert (†2012), who had worked in Berlin, discovered
960-515: The demolished broadcasting centre replaced by the new Radiokulturhaus building (present-day Funkhaus Wien ) near the Theresianum academy in Wieden , Vienna, designed by Clemens Holzmeister (1886–1983) and erected from 1935 to 1939. The Austrian government widely used RAVAG broadcasts for propaganda activities, defying massive cross-border Nazi propaganda broadcasts aired from German transmitters in
1000-467: The different occupation zones and radio became a popular medium among Austrians: in 1952 there were 1.5 million radio sets in Austrian homes. The Western Allies could operate their programmes nationwide from Vienna, with a significantly higher popularity rating than the outdated RAVAG transmissions. In 1955, the various regional stations were brought together as the Österreichisches Rundspruchwesen ('Austrian Broadcasting Entity') which later, in 1957, became
1040-456: The first time. A one-hour adaptation of Countess Mariza was shown in June 2018 on a stage set up on the festival grounds for a total of six performances. Up to 250 children were seated at each performance, and visitors were also given the opportunity to sing and dance along. The aim was to bring operetta closer to the children. The same soloists were on stage as in the regular performances. As part of
1080-555: The highest annual television licence cost, at €343.80, and Salzburg and Burgenland have the highest annual radio licence cost, at €94.92. Annual fees from July 2022 are: From January 2024, as part of reforms to the ORF tabled by the Nehammer Cabinet , the GIS organisation will be abolished and its associated TV licensing fee is expected to be replaced with a new compulsory ORF household tax, administered by ORF-Beitrags Service GmbH . As
1120-517: The lake, contained 1,500 Seating capacity. After an extension in 1959, 3000 people could be accommodated. Today the auditorium has over 6000 seats. In the following years, due to the great audience response, there were constant expansions, both in terms of the number of performances and the size of the auditorium and stage. From an initial six performances with about 7000 spectators (1957), the number increased to over 30 performances in July and August. In 2006,
1160-495: The last RAVAG transmissions was Schuschnigg's farewell address on 11 March 1938 ('God Save Austria'). Only hours later, live broadcasts featured the cheering devotees of his Nazi successor Arthur Seyss-Inquart (1892–1946), the triumphant entry of Adolf Hitler in Linz the next day, and his speech on Heldenplatz in Vienna. In 1939, the former RAVAG transmission facilities were taken over by
1200-406: The late evening news show ZiB 2 ; and Gabi Waldner [ de ] , moderator of the weekly political magazine Report . The ORF's first corporate logo , called the 'ORF eye', was designed by the Austrian illustrator and cartoonist Erich Sokol in 1968, who also served as ORF's chief graphics artist and later as art director from 1967 until 1992. The 'ORF eye' logo is often compared to
1240-511: The new system. Many of Austria's best known TV stars work for ORF. According to surveys the most prominent television presenter in the country is former alpine skier Armin Assinger who is the host of the Millionen-Show , Austria's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? . Mirjam Weichselbraun , a former MTV presenter is co-host of Dancing Stars , Austria's edition of Dancing With
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1280-404: The opening took place on 6 July 1957 with the operetta The Gypsy Baron by Johann Strauss II. The lake stage was built in a bay next to the Mörbisch bathing beach on many hundreds of piles according to the plans of architect Ferry Windberger [ de ] (1915–2008), the designer of the first Bregenz lake stage . Its dimensions were 42 by 20 m; the auditorium, created by filling in
1320-619: The privilege to mark the corks of their wine barrels with the famous 'R' brand in 1524. The affluent town finally gained independence at the 1681 diet at Sopron by the order of Emperor Leopold I , King of Hungary. With the Burgenland region, Rust passed from Hungary to the Republic of Austria in 1921. Seats in the municipal assembly ( Gemeinderat ) as of 2007 elections: Rust is twinned with: Austrian Broadcasting Corporation Österreichischer Rundfunk (lit.: 'Austrian Broadcasting'; ORF , German: [oːɛʁˈɛf] )
1360-472: The tourism concept of the municipality and the province, and Alsen subsequently agreed to take over the directorship of the Seespiele for an initial period of five years (with reference to possible competition with the Bregenz Festivals ), stressing that the Seespiele in Mörbisch did not want to be a festival that would add to the excessive number of festival venues . After two years of preparation,
1400-413: The venue by chance while looking for a holiday location that was climatically conducive to his voice, and whom the peculiar musicality of this landscape permanently touched. Alsen's plans found favour with the municipal council of Mörbisch as well as with the representative of the province, Landesrat [ de ] Hans Bögl [ de ] (1899–1974), especially as the project fitted into
1440-505: Was a mixture of items from Ö1, programmes for linguistic and cultural minorities, folk music, and special productions. The ORF television channels are broadcast terrestrially and via the SES Astra 1H satellite at 19.2° east . Via satellite ORF 1 and ORF2 are encrypted , allowing only Austrian residents who pay the Austrian television licence fee (GIS) to watch them. ORF2 Europe is unencrypted and receivable via satellite in Europe. ORF
1480-510: Was awarded the concession to begin broadcasting, with Czeja as its director-general . Regular transmissions began on 1 October 1924 from provisional studios inside the War Ministry building that was to become known as Radio Wien (Welle 530) . By the end of October 1924 it already had 30,000 listeners, and by January 1925 100,000. Relay transmitters, established across the country by 1934, ensured that all Austrians could listen to Radio Wien at
1520-782: Was damaged by Allied bombs in January and February 1945, followed by the Red Army Vienna Offensive . Reichssender Wien last aired 6 April, before retiring Schutzstaffel troops blew up the Bisamberg transmitter. Following the Wehrmacht defeat, independent Austrian RAVAG radio broadcasting resumed in Allied-occupied Austria 24 April 1945, when it announced the formation of a provisional Austrian state government led by Karl Renner (1870–1950). A new Radio Wien station
1560-522: Was extended with strong support from the tourism department, an 1800 m long lake dam, which opened up Lake Neusiedl to visitors from Mörbisch, was built and a lido was constructed. Mörbisch became the fourth important tourist community on the lake, alongside Rust, Neusiedl am See and Podersdorf am See . In 1956, the people of Mörbisch invited to a two-day Seefest . Together with the Austrian National Tourist Office [ de ] ,
1600-730: Was founded, broadcasting from Funkhaus Wien by a provisional transmitter on the rooftop, once again under Oskar Czeija, who nevertheless was ousted shortly afterward on pressure by the Soviet military administration. As the Funkhaus was located in the Soviet occupation sector of Vienna, the Western Allies established their own radio stations like the Alpenland network on British-occupied territory, Radio Rot-Weiß-Rot on US-occupied territory, Sendegruppe West on French-occupied territory, as well as
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