On Tour Through Austria's Federal States with "Elektrische Fische"

The mobile youth opera *Elektrische Fische* is continuing its tour through the federal states and will be performing this week in Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Gmunden. The production by the Vienna State Opera, Jeunesse, and Oorkaan (NL) brings contemporary musical theater directly to students throughout Austria, making topics tangiblethat many young people recognize from their own lives.

The opera, composed by Hannah Eisendle, is based on the young-adult novel of the same name by Susan Kreller and tells the story of 13--year-old Emma. When she has to move with her mother and her two siblings from Dublin to a small town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, her world is turned upside down. Emma misses not only her grandparents and friends, but also the English language, familiar routines, and everything that means “home” to her. Together with her new school friend Levin, she makes plans to return to Ireland. But as she tries to find her place in her new surroundings, she realizes that home is more than just a place—and that friendship, understanding, and solidarity play a crucial role in this.

With delicate, poetic language and a multi-layered musical arrangement, *Elektrische Fische* tells of upheavals, homesickness, and the feeling of being an outsider—but also of courage, belonging, and new connections. The opera raises questions about identity, language, and communication and invites its audience to reflect on the meaning of home and living together.

The musical arrangement is particularly noteworthy: a female singer, a male singer, and three musicians—acoustic and electronic instruments—work together to create a sonic world in which music itself becomes the storyteller. The musicians not only perform musical parts, but also take on various roles, bringing Emma’s story to life in a variety of ways. The production is complemented by a transformable set design by Mahshad Safaei, which is inspired by the movements of the sea and visually brings to life the story’s various settings and emotional worlds .

After several performances in Vienna and Lower Austria, the tour is now bringing the Youth Opera to Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Gmunden, thus continuing its journey through the federal states.