Forty-five productions in 27 performance venues: Once again this year, the internal culture festival places the city of Vienna in the focus of contemporary stage art for five whole weeks.

The festival gets going with the traditional opening party at Vienna's City Hall Square on May 10 – a free open-air event that always thrills thousands of spectators and is broadcast around the world. Starting on May 11, the newest works of 430 artists from 19 countries can be seen at 27 performance venues. First up is the five and a half hour novel "Diamante" by the Argentinian Mariano Pensotti, presented at the Eishalle Donaustadt.

The Belgian Christophe Slagmuylder is the new director of the Vienna Festival. He brings film star Isabelle Huppert to the stage in Vienna with the monologue "Mary Said What She Said", hot on the heels of the play's world premiere in Paris. 

Music and dance are combined, for example, in Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's production of Bach's "Brandenburg Concertos". François Chaignauds and Marie-Pierre Brébants reinterpret the melodies of Hildegard von Bingen's sacred songs. Choreographer and performer Marcelo Evelin has eight dancers tirelessly circle the stage to live music by Franz Schubert in his work "Matadouro".

In addition to live music – including by the local electronic musician Fennesz or at the song recital "Suite n°3 Europe" – various festival venues once again offer space for discussions and workshops. After a full five weeks, the 2019 Festival will bid a traditional farewell on June 15 in the Gösserhallen with a final party night of concerts, performances and DJs.

Vienna Festival 2019, May 11 - June 16, 2019, various venues
Program, information, tickets: www.festwochen.at