Press reviews

A carnal funeral banquet! This visual delight will come to an end on 16th June unless the fin-de-siècle metropolis of Vienna takes time to reflect on its strengths and establishes this new cult performance as a permanent feature.
Der Spiegel

A place bewitched by fantasy, an utterly exceptional and captivating spectacle. Naturally, Helmut Berger's stirring Mahler and Manker's excessive Kokoschka dominate the performance. But the whole team contributes to the triumph.
Kurier

Paulus Manker's Festwochen production has a magical fullness and is never dull for even a moment. It is gloriously wild and vulgar; passionate, colourful and multi-layered. In total, it is something extraordinary. If you can, try to see `Alma' at least three times so as not to miss a single scene.
Salzburger Nachrichten

A procession through ruins which is both a burial and an exorcism; nowhere more putrid, nowhere more complex, nowhere more magical than in the Jugendstil ruin of the former Sanatorium Purkersdorf, designed by Josef Hoffmann. Here is to be found a unique piece of synchronous theatre.
Frankfurter Allgemeine

An extravagant, lovingly detailed theatre production, nothing less than deeply moving.
Krone

A theatrical and social event which should be a permanent fixture in Vienna, and one which should be an essential element of any city visit. A fantastic idea and a fantastic interpretation; a production which opens the heart and senses.
Neue Illustrierte Welt

Sobol has made Alma's life into a play which is both strident and poetic, while director Paulus Manker has turned it into a dazzling production. A memorable stage set with virtuoso lighting ... All in all, an experience that lingers long in the mind.
Rheinische Post

On the night of the full moon, Paulus Manker has proclaimed "Alma Mania". At the premiere, the fictitious party for Alma's birthday (the role superbly acted by Susi Nicoletti) received uproarious applause from the audience. Leon Askin turned his performance into a talk-show of his own, and his star guest was Alma's granddaughter (née Zsolnay), who lives in Vienna.
Der Standard

For three hours, using elegant logistics, Paulus Manker has transformed the Sanatorium [Purkersdorf], otherwise fit only for demolition, into a "Magic Mountain". You can move from one salon to another; Mahler dies at half-time; the funeral banquet can be followed interactively to his symphonic music; and the spectator invited to a sumptuous buffet-dinner.
Frankfurter Rundschau

The surprise success of the recent Festwochen: the experiential value of this three-hour happening outshines that of most traditional theatre events. Impressed by its success, one of Klaus Bachler's last deeds as Festwochen Director - using funds from the Federal Government, City of Vienna and the province of Lower Austria - was to make possible a further 22 `Alma' performances.
Falter

On a tiny budget, Georg Resetschnig has created a sensational stage landscape, extending from the cellar to the top floor, and one which warrants extensive exploration.
News

Thrilling in its perfect elaboration of scenes, yet at once relaxing, because the visitor retains the freedom of looking, listening and marvelling.
Tiroler Tageszeitung

The enduring sound of the Festwochen was the triumphant `Alma'; unstoppable applause and rejoicing at midnight for the Alma premiere in the Sanatorium Purkersdorf.
OMV Mix

Through interiors fitted out superbly and shabbily in period style, through rustic kitchens with steaming soup, elegant salons with grand pianos, austere bathing cellars and Italian cafés, we circulate in pursuit of the many lives of Alma. Everywhere, amidst thousands of dripping candles, unfold new and astonishing scenes and arrangements. One would have to view the spectacle four or five times to see all its facets.
Düsseldorfer Tag

The first theatre play for zappers, switchers and channel hoppers. As for the genre, `Alma' can effortlessly hold its own against television, since it offers a mix of sitcom and soap opera.
Basler Zeitung

Rejoice! Rejoice! On 21st July begins a short season of 22 additional performances of Paulus Manker's perspective on the self-styled icon, Alma Mahler. A theatrical journey through fin-de-siècle dreams, a multi-facetted life and the fascinating inner world of the Sanatorium [Purkersdorf].
Die Presse

Paulus Manker, whose mindful direction is particularly impressive on this occasion, achieves the organizational miracle of a perfectly unfolding theatrical machine. Rarely has an evening of theatre ever taken such an entertaining, informative and fulfilling course. Go and experience it.
Wiener Zeitung

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