Interview: Anne Wieben of DIE CSÁRDÁSFÜRSTIN (THE CSARDAS PRINCESS) at Opera On The Lake

This absolute gem of a piece tells the story of Sylva Varescu, a successful cabaret performer who falls in love with a nobleman. Can their love survive the pressures of society? Full of lush melodies, humor, emotion and wit, you’ll see and hear why  Die Csárdásfürstin (The Csardas Princess) remains an enduring hit of the operetta genre. 

This production features a completely original English dialogue libretto crafted by Creative Director, Anne Wieben, as well as a brand new chamber orchestra arrangement by our conductor and Musical Director, Marco Real d’Arbelles.

Join us for an evening full of gorgeous music, top-notch performances from local and international opera stars, and a whole lot of fun!

We chat with  Anne Wieben, who plays the lead role of Sylva Varescu in Die 
Csárdásfürstin (The Csardas Princess). She is also founder and 
creative director of Opera on the Lake. She attended the University of 
Minnesota before moving to Vienna, Austria. She founded Opera on the 
Lake in 2019 and has since brought 4 seasons of Viennese operetta to 
the Como Lakeside Pavilion. 

What is your favorite aria in this production?

That's tough to say because this show is full of some truly incredible music! I'd have to say, though, the duet between Sylva and Edwin in Act 2,"Weisst Du Es Noch," is perhaps my favorite. It is incredibly lush and so full of pathos and emotion!

 What is your favorite moment in this production?
One of my favorite moments is during the ensemble in Act 1 "Die 
Mädis vom Chantant". I don’t want to give too much away, but there is a very Minnesotan moment involving a drinking game! 

What do you hope the audience takes away from seeing this production?
A new love of this fantastic composer! Emmerich Kalman was a prolific operetta composer in the early 20th century. His works are well known in Europe, but no so much here. I’m thrilled to see how audiences react. The music is absolutely stunning, and the characters have real depth. But most of all, my hope is that everyone simply has a good time! Opera on the Lake is all about bringing people together- Ticket prices are affordable, you can have a drink during the show and enjoy a breeze from the lake, all while experiencing top-notch, world class performances from local and international opera stars. What more could you want!

What are your favorite local spots?

I can't leave the Twin Cities without having some classic vanilla cheesecake from Cafe Latte in Saint Paul and a juicy lucy from The Nook!

Thank you Anne for your time!

For more ticket and show information, please click the ticket link button below.

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