Zentralfriedhof

“Life is death in a fleeting disguise.” Peter Weibel

That quote could be seen as a caption for Herbert Fritsch’s undertaking. Following on from his musical, poetic productions, the director and stage designer dedicates himself to the magical Central Cemetery in Vienna and invents his own narrative for ensemble and music. For Fritsch, Vienna’s Central Cemetery, established in 1874, is much more than a final resting place. On an area of about two square kilometres, it is the second-largest cemetery in all of Europe. It presents itself as a parallel universe. It is not only about the many famous artists buried here, but also about the idea that the dead live on in this place. Here lie men and women, old and young, all cultures, all levels of education and social backgrounds. Death and dying are taboo topics. Herbert Fritsch wants to find the humour that we develop to conceal our fear of death. Whoever has been at a funeral or memorial ceremony knows that these gatherings are not only tragic but also have great comic potential. Famous residents of the Central Cemetery form the heart of the piece: Maria Lassnig, Hans Moser, Marianne Fritz, Helmut Qualtinger, Falco and Hedy Lamarr. We look forward to seeing who Fritsch will bring back to life.