Zeltinger Operetten-Festspiele – Zeltinger Himmelreich

Operetta in the Mosel Wine Village

Zeltingen-Rachtig is one of the classic Mosel wine villages located between Bernkastel-Kues and Ürzig. The Zeltinger Himmelreich and Zeltinger Sonnenuhr vineyard sites are among the best Riesling addresses on the Mittelmosel. It is precisely in this oenological environment that the Zeltinger Operetten-Festspiele has found its characteristic niche: the light genre of operetta, combined with the sophisticated summer atmosphere of a famous Mosel village – and, of course, with Riesling in the glass.

Several Performances Over a Long Weekend

The festival extends over a long weekend with several performance days, traditionally from Friday to Saturday of the following week, with additional performances on individual weekdays. The program features classics of the golden operetta era: works by Franz Lehár ("Die lustige Witwe", "Das Land des Lächelns"), Johann Strauß ("Die Fledermaus", "Wiener Blut"), Emmerich Kálmán ("Csárdásfürstin", "Gräfin Mariza"), Jacques Offenbach, or Carl Zeller. The staging and cast are professional, often featuring soloists from German and Austrian opera houses.

Festival Atmosphere and Mosel Wine

The performances take place in specially adapted halls or outdoor settings within the village. The combined atmosphere of operetta, summer evening, and Mosel wine is the format's true strength: those who book a festival evening can extend the experience with a wine tasting beforehand, dinner at a Mosel restaurant, and a stroll along the Mosel afterwards. Operetta fans from all over the German-speaking world appreciate the format as an unpretentious alternative to the major festivals.