The Eutin Festival are among the most traditional, but especially to the most romantic open- air summer festival of opera and operetta in . The idyllic open-air theater in the castle garden, is directly on the shores of the Great Lake Eutin, as one of the most beautiful theaters. This year the festival for the 62nd Time aligned.

In 1951, the open-air opera on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the death of the composer Carl Maria von Weber, one of the sons of the city was founded. They opted for the Castle Garden, one of the remarkable artistry and northern Germany and in front of the now lavishly restored Palace, former seat of the prince bishops of Lübeck and later the home of the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg, spreads. Weber's romantic opera Der Freischütz was then on the program - with success: From the original two scheduled performances were nine; prominently occupied with important artists of her time. The Summer Games were Eutiner now to the cultural life of the country and proved to be a crowd puller. Only in the 50th Season in 2000 they were renamed the Eutin Festival. Since 1951, 45 different plants - from the Baroque to the 20th Century - lists only the Freischütz in 42 seasons - 2009 and since 2012 as a children's opera. Of 4 July to 19 August, Schleswig-Holstein's oldest classical outdoor theater with three new productions, and several concerts at opera again a demanding program.

With the support of the trade association could Eutin 2011, the New Eutin Festival to be created and preserved the decades of success and have given this new emphasis. As with most of opera houses, is a self-financing is not possible. The new Eutin Festival supported by the State of Schleswig-Holstein, the Arts Council of , the city Eutin and other funding agencies. In addition, dozens of sponsors put its financial commitment is a sign of solidarity for the future-oriented continuation of Schleswig-Holstein's oldest open-air opera stage. With the establishment of co-culture Eutin is also the future of the festival will be secured. It is in Schleswig-Holstein, the first co-operation of an opera with such an alignment.

Debuts and innovations

For the season 2012 was the festival director Dominique Caron as Director and Artistic, and Urs Michel Theus as music director for Eutin "Green Hill" win. Three new productions, a variety of solo debuts and first own Festival Orchestra are the protagonists of the Festival a delightful challenge. The festival orchestra was put together for the first time this year and will make his debut at the opening concert sound and classic pearls dreams. With this performance, the county seat Eutin for the first time a classical concert experience in their marketplace. Almost new, the German-American cooperation with the School of Music at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, America. This was created last year through the existing partnership between the cities since 1989 Festival Eutin city and the university town of Lawrence.

Nearly 40 American guests look at the School of Music this season at the New Eutiner Festival with - including 20 in the festival orchestra, 15 choir members, soloist, Hugo Vera as Ismael in Verdi's Nabucco and the director of the School and conductor David Neely. He will conduct along with Theus, the Classic Night. In Verdi's opera Nabucco, the Italian bass- baritone baritone Devid Cecconi will play the title role.

The Eutin Festival Orchestra consists of 90 musicians total. 70 professional musicians from theaters and opera houses of Lubeck, Hamburg, Hanover and Lüneburg, and the remaining 20 players are coming from Kansas University (KU) in Lawrence, Kansas, Eutin sister city. They are used depending on the size of the orchestra and in exchange for use. In Verdi's opera Nabucco will provide, for example, 66 musicians for a high sound quality. A "real fine tuning challenge" is the agreement between the American and German instruments. While the U.S. is calibrated to 440 Hertz, the German lie at 443 hertz. The festival guests will hear no difference, because all the instruments of the orchestra will be tuned to 442 hertz.

With its many innovations will be the 62nd Eutin Festival with lots of new ideas, international, and presenting future oriented mainly. A ray of hope in times when so many other cultural events are a threat to their existence. --Andreas H. Hölscher