Summer longings: The greatest day on the Potsdam waterfront!

Summer longings: The greatest day on the Potsdam waterfront!

On June 14, 2025, the Hans Otto Theater in Potsdam starts the new season and opens with Peter Turrini's gripping folk play “The Greatest Day”. Under the direction of Adriana Altaras, the lake stage becomes the setting for a musical summer performance that shines with an attractive backdrop. The stage is decorated with Spanish elements, including lemon and orange trees and a fountain of Neptune, which give the ambience a special charm.

In this critical adaptation of Beaumarchais' "The Great Day or The Marriage of Figaro", the plot of the servant Figaro, who is about to marry Susanne, is taken to a new, dramatic level. Unlike the original, where the wedding has a happy atmosphere, in Turrini's Figaro is confronted with a brutal outcome. Count Almaviva, who wants to torpedo the wedding in order to get closer to Susanne himself, sends his schemer Bacillus, which leads to an exciting game of intrigue.

The production and its elements

Adriana Altaras has demonstrated a keen sense of staging. While the brutal outcome of the piece is in the foreground in Turrini, a somewhat more conciliatory view is chosen in Potsdam. Instead of the count's gruesome murder, the characters finally throw him out of the window into the lake, where he surreally appears as a maid. This element brings a touch of comedy to the story, which is more than just a summer piece.

In the production, music, played live by pianist Rita Herzog, becomes the central element, with Mozart's works predominantly playing. The successful combination of music and dialogue provides humorous allusions and makes the performance a cheerful experience that addresses the conflict between servants and rulers. The central question of freedom, justice and rebellion against arbitrariness is skilfully dealt with.

Special features and outlook

Viewers can be happy that even former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his wife are sitting in the audience and witnessing the premiere. This presence underlines the importance of the piece not only for the culture in Potsdam, but also beyond. The acting performances of Philipp Stix as Figaro and Lena Antonia Birke as Susanne promise a gripping experience, while the unfortunate Countess and the role of the Count further heat up the tension with his intrigues.

The piece has already caused a stir in Vienna, where it premiered at the Scala with a slightly different production. Turrini subjected Beaumarchais' work to a critical examination, which led to the creation of new moments of tension. His adaptation, which was enthusiastically received in Vienna, shows that the topics are still very relevant today.

With “The Greatest Day”, viewers in the Hans Otto Theater can expect cheerful, musical summer entertainment that not only awakens emotions, but also stimulates thought. With a mixture of intrigue, feelings and a lot of humor, a varied evening of theater is on the program.