About us
Music Festival SteyrAn annual highlight on the cultural agenda of Steyr and on the Austrian cultural scene. 5 years opera open air in the castle moat of Schloss Lamberg - a new venue with a special ambience. Musicals... with numerous new productions at Altes Theater and Stadttheater Steyr. Then and now the supporting advisory committee with all its sponsors and the culturally minded people of Steyr have shown great involvement. Nationally and internationally acclaimed opera singers as well as the whole ensemble have committed themselves to an excellent artistic and commercial performance. Looking back and into the future
Since 1995 festival director Kons. Karl-Michael Ebner and his team have contributed numerous new productions and well - known operas and musicals (such as "Godspell") to the cultural summer in Upper Austria.
Music Festival Steyr is a vitalising force in the region Regional representative and Town Mayor Franz Schillhuber is convinced: "the festival moves many people - those who come to visit these events and enjoy the high-standard cultural program." One of the highlights in the last 16 years certainly was the realisation of the castle moat Schloss Lamberg venue: a new open air stage for all kinds of cultural and artistic events. Despite many difficulties and obstacles Festival Director Ebner and his team, supported by the advisory committee and chairman, former Town Mayor Ing. David Forstenlechner, succeeded in realising this project six years ago. "The castle moat arena" was embedded into an ibex enclosure - the animals still live there (in their own enclosure behind the scenery) and seem to be enjoying the open air operas and musicals in the summer just as much as the audience. |
In 2002 the open air venue was inaugurated with a concert given by the popular group "The Rounder Girls". Not to be forgotten, the music festival, too, slowly developed from a small musical production at the Altes Theater, to a bigger one at the Stadttheater and finally to a festival, staging opera and musical events in all local venues available. Loyal companions and friends in the supporting advisory committee... Today more than 20 percent of the festival budget is contributed by sponsors from the business community. From the very beginning to this day BMW Steyr, the biggest engine plant of the BMW Group worldwide, has supported our festival. "Sponsorship and promotion of the arts perfectly reflects our business culture. Art in all its variety is always unique and irreplaceable - something we regard our products to be, too", Rudolf Handlgruber, company spokesman, is keen to point out. Since 2005 SKF Austria AG (manufacturing plant for rolling bearings in Steyr) is also an outstanding partner and promoter of the festival.
Ing. Franz Hammelmüller, executive director, on the cultural management of SKF: "Regional events are of great interest to an economically and socially responsible organisation like SKF. We can express our understanding and openness to art and tradition through sponsorship projects. The cooperation with the Music Festival Steyr gives SKF the opportunity of a lasting effect in the cultural field as well as better communication." Since 2009 Schoeller Münzhandel (bullion merchant) is one of our biggest sponsors. |
Further sponsors and partners who have shown growing involvement in the Music Festival over the last years are: Vienna Insurance Group, Enns Steyr Brewrey, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines), Thai Airways to mention but a few (see list of sponsors). The Music Festival Steyr gives considerable impetus to surrounding commercial and catering businesses as well as the regional hotels due to the wide range of tourist activities offered in and around the festival. Shops and companies based in Steyr old town contribute considerably to the advertising and marketing efforts of the festival by decorating their shop windows, thus drawing the attention of potentially interested visitors to the festival events, the operas, the musicals and musical performances. Increased purchasing power results in greater added value for Steyr The singers and the whole artistic ensemble are not always only busy rehearsing but sometimes need a break, which occasionally they spend shopping until they drop. Local hotels, bars and cafes enjoy waiting on the celebrities who drop in for a meal, a drink or a coffee, which, after all, is all part of an artist's life. Generally it can be said that the summer months of the music festival have a stabilising effect on the regional economy and the job market. Due to its economic success, its wide range of cultural events and its artistic quality Gunter Mayrhofer Chairman of the Board of Trade feels that the music festival has become an important regular cultural event for Steyr and an invaluable impetus for Steyr and its regional commercial activities. Supported generously by the town of Steyr, Town Mayor Gerald Hackl considers Music Festival Steyr an important cultural event and extends a kind invitation to everyone to come and enjoy Steyr and the 2010 festival program. |