Premiere of One Night in Venice”: Operetta magic or flop?

Premiere of One Night in Venice”: Operetta magic or flop?

On October 25, 2025, Vienna experienced a special evening dedicated to operetta. The Vienna Volksoper celebrated the premiere of a work by Johann Strauss II with “A Night in Venice”, which took the audience into the magical world of Venice. Conductor Alexander Joel led the orchestra with a deft hand for the fine tones, but the evening was not without its criticisms.

Reviews of the production were mixed. While the direction by Nina Spijkers of the Netherlands created some lively moments, the set design was described as uninspired and uniformly black and white. Neither the Venetian flair nor the “real operetta melting” were felt by the audience. Instead, the performance was supplemented by comic character costumes and whirlwind stage actions, which did not appeal to everyone. So many were denied the “singing highlight” of the evening.

Cast and characters

The ensemble's commitment was positive, even if there was a lack of dramaturgical tension. Viewers could look forward to talented actors. Particularly highlighted were Johanna Arrouas in the role of Annina, who appeared lively and distinguished, as well as Lucian Krasznec as the Duke of Urbino and David Kerber as Caramello, who are already considered potential audience favorites. A complete overview of the cast is shown below:

• Lucian Krasznec – Herzog von Urbino
• Marco Di Sapia – Bartolomeo Delacqua, Senator von Venedig
• Andreas Patton – Stefano Barbaruccio, Senator von Venedig
• Ursula Pfitzner – Giorgia Testaccio, Senatorin von Venedig
• David Kerber – Caramello, Leibbarbier des Herzogs
• Martina Dorak – Annina, Fischerin

These and many other characters contributed to the colorful mix of the play, which originally revolved around the intrigues and romances surrounding the Duke of Urbino.

Crucial backgrounds

The performance is part of the Strauss Year celebrations in Vienna, which underlines the importance of the project. Johann Strauss II, whose life lasted from 1825 to 1899, is recognized as one of the outstanding composers of operetta. “A Night in Venice” is one of his most original works, even if it often does not receive the same attention as his better-known pieces.

But interest in Strauss remains unbroken, especially in Vienna, where most of his works' premieres took place. Despite the mixed reviews, it is hoped that the upcoming performances will arouse even more enthusiasm among the audience.

Reports on the events of the premiere can also be found in an article by Online marker and on the website of the Folk Opera. For more detailed background information on the operetta itself, see Wikipedia a good starting point.