Following a furious success in its premiere year 2011 the Dresden State Operetta will present its three Johann Strauss rarities at the core of this year’s festival programme once more.

“Prince Methusalem” will be shown in Adriana Altaras’ fantastic and imaginative staging. Again in a concert in operettic form you can see German cabaret star Désirée Nick presenting “Carnival in Rome” with her special insights into this not so innocent carnival. Coming back to Dresden after a long time, actor Peter Bause will be this year’s host of “The queen’s lace handkerchief” with his satirical reflection of Strauss’s successful operetta from 1880.

It goes without saying that the famous operettas of Vienna’s king of waltz will also be part of the festival. Besides “The Bat” and “The Gypsy Baron” you can also expect the still regularly performed Jacques Offenbach satires “La Grand Duchesse de Gerolstein” and “La vie Parisienne”. For the “Grand Duchesse” we have convinced star comedian Alfons (in Germany well-renowned Frenchman with his comedy series “Puschel-TV”) to present his moderation that he premiered with in Cologne’s Philharmonic concert house on January 4th, 2012, once again for the Dresden audience.

A further highlight will be George Gershwin’s “Pardon My English”, a musical set in Dresden and well described by its author as a Broadway operetta. Again, a piece you can only see and hear in Dresden.

In addition to this exciting stage programme we will offer VIP tickets which guarantee its holders an evening full of pleasures: a tasty three course menu and a “meet & greet”with the evening’s stars or, on other evenings a discussion with the popular presenter in the theatre restaurant “Fledermaus”. Enjoy eight different works by Strauss, Offenbach or Gershwin in eight days. A variety nowhere to be found except in the Johann Strauss Festival Dresden.