“Long Night of Stages” in Linz – ooe.ORF.at

Performances ranged from theatre, dance and cabaret to musical performances. With around 12,000 visitors, the “Long Night of Theater” is the largest and most successful cultural event in the state of Upper Austria.

The special feature of this leg of the marathon is the intense cooperation between the independent artistic and cultural scene in Upper Austria and the country's established cultural venues, says organizer Alfred Rauch. Rooms are provided. This way, the independent theater and dance scene can present itself in a professional setting, Rauch says.

Bruckner is the focus this year

The focus of some events was on dealing with annual guardian Anton Bruckner. For example, the Hard Choir Linz and the wind ensemble of the Anton Bruckner Private University under the direction of Alexander Koller performed lesser-known choral pieces by Bruckner in St. Mary's Cathedral.

Products listed for the first time

After inviting artists with disabilities several times to participate in this major cultural event, several inclusive productions were included in the schedule this year, says Rauch. In cooperation with the Landesmusikschulwerk Oberösterreich, Musica invita and several Andorfer choirs, the INNklusiv Theater presented its latest production “Alles Anton” at the Schauspielhaus with more than 75 participants.

The UNIverse Comprehensive Music Ensemble from the Anton Bruckner Private University opened the program at Central with a concert. In collaboration with ImpulsTanz, two dance workshops open to everyone were organized in the front yard of Lentos. The “Night of Long Stages” ended with a subsequent show at the Ars Electronica Center.

Orientation every two years

Renewing eleven years after the big successful event is to organize the future every two years. It should be done every two years. “In this way, overlaps with festivals and other large cultural events in early summer should be avoided,” says organizer Alfred Rauch, “and this means that the next ‘Long Night’ in Linz will not be until 2026.”