From 15 July to 22 August 2026, the St. Margarethen Quarry in Austria will once again become the stage for a world-class opera experience. Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece Tosca will return in a spectacular new production, marking the 30th anniversary of ‘Oper im Steinbruch’.
The production comes from the acclaimed creative duo Thaddeus Strassberger (director & set designer) and Giuseppe Palella (costume designer), who previously thrilled audiences with Turandot (2021) and Aida (2024). Together, they transport the audience to Rome around 1800, during the Napoleonic Wars — a time of religious power, political repression, and revolutionary upheaval.
Baroque imagery meets musical drama
Strassberger’s staging is inspired by the aesthetics of Roman Baroque — Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro painting, Bernini’s theatricality, and Borromini’s architecture shape the visual world. The opera’s historic settings — the Basilica of Sant’ Andrea della Valle, the Palazzo Farnese, and Castel Sant’ Angelo — are brought vividly to life on stage.
“For me, the stage is not merely a backdrop but an active storyteller. Instead of relying on bold artistic effects, I focus on the interplay of set, light, and costume to make the historic tensions — the power shifts of the Papal States and the revolutionary threat — tangible to the audience.”
— Thaddeus Strassberger
“My costumes for Tosca combine the dramatic opulence of the Baroque with a realistic attention to detail. They are both magnificent and historically grounded, helping to anchor each character credibly in their time.”
— Giuseppe Palella
The musical direction will once again be in the hands of Valerio Galli, a celebrated Puccini specialist who delighted audiences at the quarry in 2023 with Carmen. The quarry’s natural acoustics give Puccini’s passionate music an even greater intensity.
International voices on a grand stage
The title role of Floria Tosca will be sung by Joyce El-Khoury, Céline Byrne, and Melissa Purnell. As Cavaradossi, audiences will hear Bror Magnus Tødenes, Yongzhao Yu, and Adorján Pataki, while the role of Scarpia will be performed by Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar, Hansung Yoo, and Marco Caria. Supporting roles feature experienced artists including Zoltan Nagy, Ivan Zinoviev, and Ilia Kazakov.
Culture as experience and catalyst
“With Tosca, we bring one of the most gripping operas in music history to the monumental setting of the quarry.”
— Daniel Serafin, Artistic Director of Opera in the Quarry
“Opera in the Quarry unites artistic excellence with regional responsibility. Our goal is not only to present culture as an inspiring experience but also to establish it as a driver of sustainable development in Burgenland.”
— Rico Gulda, Managing Director, Esterházy Privatstiftung
Looking ahead to 2027
The successful team will return next year: in 2027, Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto will take the stage — again under the direction of Strassberger, Palella, and Galli.
About Oper im Steinbruch
For three decades, Oper im Steinbruch has stood for spectacular productions, international vocal artistry, and an incomparable natural setting. The stage lies in the St. Margarethen Quarry, surrounded by the sweeping hills of the Ruster Hügelland — part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Fertő/Neusiedler See.
Combining monumental scenery with world-class artistic direction and innovative stage design, each production becomes a true cultural highlight. Opera in the Quarry offers not just superb music, but a complete sensory experience — and has long established itself as one of Europe’s great open-air festivals.
The Esterházy Privatstiftung and Esterházy Palace
The Esterházy Privatstiftung preserves and develops one of Austria’s most important cultural legacies. It manages a wide range of historic properties, vineyards, and natural landscapes, and is committed to connecting tradition with innovation. Its activities include not only the Opera in the Quarry but also exhibitions, concerts, and events at Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt — one of the most beautiful Baroque residences in Austria and a major center of Haydn’s musical heritage. Through these initiatives, the foundation fosters cultural life in Burgenland and beyond, making the Esterházy name synonymous with artistic excellence and living history.
source: esterhazy.at
