Tour Dates: 2003

Biographical Sketch For Operettenbuehne Wien Soloists and Conductor

OPERETTENBUEHNE WIEN

The "Operettenbuehne Wien" is the successor company of the "Muenchner Operettenbuehne", and is one of the biggest and most important tour stages of Europe. With more than 1000 performances in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark and France this stage could convince with a very high niveau.

The two first productions of "Operettenbuehne Wien" - "Grafin Mariza" and "Dreimaderlhaus" with more than 100 performances in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark were a sensational success at the press and also by the audience.

The stage manager and conductor Heinz Hellberg, who is the director of the "Operettenbuehne Wien", could bring in his long experience as soloist at the Volksopera Vienna. The cooperation with the Austrian Federal Theatres guarantees a first class scenery.

"Operettenbuehne Wien" is the culture ambassador of Vienna for the promotion of the unique Viennese operetta art. Each year, they give over a hundred performances on tour all over the world on invitation from different countries. In celebration of the China première of "Operettenbuehne Wien" in December 2000, Mayor and Governor of Vienna, Dr. Hauepl sent warm greetings for this event.

It is a commitment of "Operettenbuehne Wien" to present the Austrian cultural asset, the Viennese operetta, in-and-out side of Austria on the highest niveau.

The "Operettenbuehne Wien" promises the performance will be a charming enjoyment with quality and esprit.

Melanie Holliday (Hanna Glawari)

Melanie Holliday, soprano, was born in Houston, Texas. Having had fourteen years of formal training in ballet, she took up singing with Dr. Walter Foster.

Shortly after her graduation from Indiana University, she was invited to tour Klagenfurt, Basel and Mainz. Her premiere in Wiener Staatsoper under director Leonard Bernstein turned out to be an overwhelming success. Thus, she was listed on the cast of Ensemble der Wiener Volksoper. Her fantastic presentation of "Olympia" is well appreciated by experts in the field. Her tours include Staatstheatre am Gartnerplatz in Munich, Spoleto Festival in Italy, Opera Forum in the Netherlands, and Theatre Liceo in Barcelona.

Warmly welcomed by Japanese audience, Melanie Holliday was invited to perform in Japan for many times.

A 14-part TV program, "Horoskop", was especially made for her by ORF. Her schedule is always loaded with invitations from TV stations. "Die ganze Welt ist himmelblau", "Karneval der Operette", "Die Musik kommt", "Sing mit uns" "Ich lade gern mit Gaste ein" and "Musik liegt in der Luft" have become her brand name pieces. Her CDs are quick sellers on the market and are cherished by her fans.

Heinz Hellberg (Conductor)

Heinz Hellberg was born in Vienna. At the age of 8 he enrolled in the Vienna Boys Choir, where he became soprano soloist. He sang all children roles at the Vienna State Opera (e.g. the first boy in the "Magic Flute" by W.A. Mozart under the direction of Herbert von Karajan). At concerts he always conducted as child prodigy a music piece.

When 14 years old, he entered the Academy for Music and Performing Art in Vienna, where he studied horn and conducting. At the age of 16, he was the youngest choir conductor in Austria. Afterwards he was three years first hornist at the Viennese Raimundtheater.

Then he started his career as operetta singer (buffo) and was 13 years first soloist at the Vienna Volksopera. During this time, he made over 25 TV-shows, with Jose Carreras, Peter Hoffmann, and Renate Holm, etc.

As conductor, he gave several operetta concerts, e.g. with the Orchestra of the Vienna Volksopera and conducted operettas as "Die Fledermaus" (Austria, Germany, France), "Das Dreimaederlhaus", "Zigeunerbaron", "Graefin Mariza" and "Lustige Witwe".

He founded "Operettenbuehne Wien" and conducted concerts and operettas in-and-outside of Austria.

He also became a Professor and Advisor to singers at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warszawa.

In 1992 he was given the honorary title of Doctor by the London Institute for Applied Research.

Daniel Ferlin (Danilo)

Was born in Graz, Austria and absolved the education at the Academy of Music in Graz. He studied singing with Prof. Liesl, Prof. Preler, and so on.

Engagements: Graz, Opera House

City Theatre Klagenfurt

City Theatre Baden/Wien

City Theatre St. Poeiten

Summerfestival Baden

Bad Hall

Klangbogen Vienna

Bad Deutsch Altenburg

Numerous tours in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Operetta concerts at home and abroad. Big success as "Danilo" in Japan. Main cast at the Ronacher Vienna ("Eisenstein" in "The Bat").

Monika Mosser (Valencienne)

Was born in Vienna and got her first engagement at the age of 14 at the Raimund Theatre Vienna (children role at "Rastelbinder" by Lehar). Since 19, demanded soloist for Vienna Church Music at St. Stephan, Lichtental and many other churches.

Studied singing at the Academy for Music and Performing Arts with Prof. Svatec. Since 1990 teacher at the Vienna Conservatory.

Winner of the main prize at the international Operetta Competition Nico Dostal. Tours throughout Europe, United States and South-America.

Permanent soloist of the Vienna Residenz Orchestra.

Soloist at the Musikverein Wein and Konzerthaus Wien.

Viktor Schilowsky(Cascada)

Was born in Vienna in1959. Son of a Russian father and an Austrian mother. He learned both languages and finished school in 1977. After two years of private singing lessons, he studied from 1989 to 1992 at the Opera School of the Conservatory of the City of Vienna with Prof. KS Waldermar Kmentt and graduated in 1992 with diploma. At the moment, he works with KS Wicus Slabbert at the Vienna State Opera.

Engagements at the City Theatre St. Poelten, the Operetta Festival Bad Ischl, the Vienna Chamber Opera, Austrian Children Musical "The Circus". Since 1995 soloist at numerous Vienna Concert performances as free-lance soloist. Solo-concerts at home and abroad (Belgium, Germany, Russia), appearances at the Vienna Festival Week, Austrian TV, Opera Gent. Concerts in the Musikverein Vienna and Konzerthaus Vienna, in Belgium TV.

Fermin Montagud (Camille)

Was born in Godella near Valencia in Spain.

He received his musical education at the Music Academy of Valencia (1978-87), after that, at the Opera-class of the Conservatory of the City Vienna (1987-89).

In 1989, he is working at the Operastudio of the Vienna State Opera where he appeared in concerts and productions like La Traviata, ⅡBarbiere di Siviglia, "Der Rosenkavalier" etc. In 1991, he engaged himself with the Opera House of Graz.

In the recent years, numerous engagements in different opera houses and recitals, oratorios, zarzuela, operetta and opera concerts in Austria, Italy, Germany and Spain.

Walter Jenewein (Zeta)

Walter Jenewein studies at the Vienna Academy for Music and Performing Arts. Since 1965, he was a member of the Vienna Volksopera. He has toured Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. He performed in many opera such as Tamino, Monostados, Junker Spaerlich, Zitterbart, Iwanov, Kilian, Wenzel, as well as many operettas, such as Vogelhaendle, Boccaccio, Gasparone, Zigeunerbaron, Nacht in Venedig, Fledermaus, Bettelstudent, Paganini, Weisses Roessl, Zarewitsch, Csardasfuerstin, etc.

Kurt Liederer (Njegus)

Graduated from the Academy for Music and Performing Art in Vienna, Mr. Liederer has successfully performed in nearly all operettas and musicals by master composers like Lehar, Kalman, Stolz, Ziehrer and so on. He has experiences performing in theatres in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, and was warmly received and acclaimed by the audience. From the beginning of his career as a buffo artist, he has been invited to appear in numerous TV shows and cabaret programs. Presently, Mr. Liederer is working on several character roles in musicals and speaking pieces.