On 1 August, 6,600 people sang opera choruses together on the lakeside stand of the Bregenz Festival. The "Singalong am See" was held for the first time. The occasion was the 80th anniversary of the largest cultural event on Lake Constance.
Anyone who wanted to join could register from the start of the year. Participants were sent sheet music and practice material. Taking part was free, demand for tickets stayed high to the end, and the event sold out. According to the festival, the singers travelled from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic. The motto was "Alemania cantat", and choirs, singing groups and individuals were all invited.
The vast choir was conducted by the Australian Steven Moore. He was accompanied by an instrumental ensemble including musicians from the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra. Soloists from this year's festival took part as well, along with members of the Bregenz Festival Choir, the Prague Philharmonic Choir and the Bavarian Radio Choir.
What they sang
The programme drew on the best-known choruses from 80 years of festival history. They included "Va, pensiero" from Nabucco, the Huntsmen's Chorus from Der Freischütz and "Nessun dorma" from Turandot. Then came the Anvil Chorus from Il trovatore, the Toreador Song from Carmen and the Brindisi from La traviata. "O sole mio" was added to the list. The whole thing ran about 75 minutes without an interval.
The conditions were harshly summery. At 30 degrees with no shade on the stand, sun hats, fans and cold drinks were in demand. Moore had the 6,600 shake themselves loose beforehand and rehearse a Mexican wave. On cue everyone had to stand up abruptly or wave an outstretched index finger as at a rock concert. After an hour a few drops fell from a dark cloud over the lake, a welcome cooling. At the end everyone sang "Happy birthday, dear Festspiele", with "Nessun dorma" as an encore.
The lake stage is otherwise famous for its sets. In 1999 a 25-metre skeleton loomed over the water for Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. In 2007 a giant eye looked down on the audience for Tosca. This year an oversized broken mirror stands on stage for La traviata. For the anniversary, the scenery was not the point. The stand was.