08.05.2026

ELEANOR LYONS at the "Festival of Joy" at Vienna's Heldenplatz

On 8 May, the ‘Festival of Joy’ will be celebrated for the 14th time at Heldenplatz, in commemoration of the liberation from Nazi tyranny and its victims. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra has traditionally been the musical partner from the very beginning; this year, under the baton of Ingo Metzmacher, they have put together a varied and memorable programme, combining classical works by composers driven into exile, such as Kurt Weill, Franz Schreker and Paul Abraham, with songs and lyrics by the singer-songwriter Magda. Alongside the classic “L’amour toujours” from Paul Abraham’s operetta Ball im Savoy, Eleanor Lyons will also perform Richard Strauss’s late songs “Malven” and “Lied der Frauen”, before bringing the evening to a close with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, a symbol of peace and unity. This year, Lucy Waldstein will address the audience as a contemporary witness.

ORF III will broadcast the Festival of Joy live from 8.15 pm.

with:

Magda, vocals
Eleanor Lyons, soprano
Ingo Metzmacher, musical director
Vienna Symphony Orchestra