10.08.2025

NIKOLA HILLEBRAND stars in Strauß' Wiener Blut in Vienna

While most theatres brought their opera seasons to a close already many weeks ago, the team of the JOST25 - Vienna’s project in celebration of the Johann Strauss 2025 bicentenary year – have been quietly hard at work preparing for a unique production of the composer’s operetta Wiener Blut. Unique because it combines the historical setting of the Schönbrunn Palace Theatre with the lively and always inventive staging of Nikolaus Habjan and his trusted team.

At the helm of the cast is soprano Nikola Hillebrand, who returns to Vienna's theatre stage following her highly acclaimed debut in Bernstein's Candide last season. This time she makes her debut as Strauss’ main female protagonist, Countess Zedlau. The composer’s female figures are unbelievably strong and smart, according to Habjan, something which has always attracted him to Strauss’ work. Musically, the operetta is based on Johann Strauss' waltz "Wiener Blut" from 1873 as well as other compositions arranged by Adolf Müller Jr. into a full-length operetta. Nikolaus Habjan's production brings a mixture of diplomatic confusion, social satire and musical joie de vivre to the stage.

While the music itself is the backbone of the work – and what can be considered a musical declaration of love for Vienna – equally as important is the captivating dialogue, without which an operetta like this can die. Habjan considers Hillebrand in this case to be the “ideal fit” for the role “with her shining stage presence and wonderful voice”.

"There is nothing funnier in reality, but also in the theatre when someone takes themselves too seriously. And if someone can't laugh at themselves, an incredible comedy arises," - Nikolaus Habjan

Cast

Musical director, Hannah Eisendle
Director, Nikolaus Habjan
Set design, Heike Vollmer
Costume design, Denise Heschl
Choreography, Steffi Wieser
Lighting, Paul Grilj

Count Zedlau, David Kerber
Countess Zedlau, Nikola Hillebrand
Franziska Cagliari, Anett Fritsch
Pepi, Sophie Mitterhuber
Josef, Boris Eder
Prince of Ypsheim-Gindelbach, Alexander Strömer
Kagler, Franz Xaver Zach
Puppetry, Nikolaus Habjan, Max Konrad, Angelo Konzett

Vienna Chamber Orchestra
Vienna Chamber Choir (conductor Michael Grohotolsky)