Opera Camps at Schloss Arenberg

In the opera camps, music-loving children and teenagers aged 9 to 17 become immersed in the world
of opera and spend a week at Arenberg Castle with artists and experienced teaching professionals. Here they engage with material from great operas and conclude the week by performing their own interpretations of the works, assisted by members of the Vienna Philharmonic, in front of an audience.

When Olivier Messiaen’s only opera, Saint François d’Assise, premiered in 1983, he called it a ‘musical spectacle‘. Across eight scenes, the work traces key moments from the life of Saint Francis and follows him on his spiritual path toward unity with God. Birds play a special role in this journey — as symbols of freedom, creation and the divine voice. A deeply devout man and lifelong admirer of birdsong, Messiaen wove their calls into his score, creating a sound world that seems to float between earth and heaven. Within the shimmering musical landscape of Saint François d’Assise, unusual rhythms and radiant colours burst into life. Drawing inspiration from these elements, the young people in this camp will weave in their own ideas to create entirely new musical and theatrical stories.

On the opera Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss
For teenagers aged 13 to 16
Camp language: German, English

Deep feeling meets playful humour in Ariadne auf Naxos, where Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal spin a tale of art, love and the magic of transformation. A wealthy patron makes an outrageous demand: stage a tragic opera about the abandoned Ariadne and a sparkling comedy about the carefree Zerbinetta — at the same time! This wild idea sparks a collision of longing and lightness, bringing together two worlds that couldn’t be more different. Through playing in the orchestra, singing and acting, the young participants will immerse themselves in the music and libretto, shaping their own take on the opera’s story.

On the opera Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
For children aged 9 to 12
Camp language: German, English

Così fan tutte — an opera full of wit, confusion and emotional chaos. Two young men bet on their fiancées’ loyalty and decide to put them to the test. Amid a game of masks, costumes and low cunning, emotions begin to shift and harmless pranks give way to real hurt. Mozart’s music lets us glimpse behind the lovers’ fragile façades, revealing what they truly feel, and reminding us how much honesty and respect matter in relationships. Through singing, acting, playing and experimenting, the young participants will rise to the challenge of creating their own version of Mozart’s Così fan tutte.