Pia Douwes For Her Book Augen.Blicke Aus Dem Barock (Eyes. Views From The Baroque)

𝓜𝓲𝓳𝓷 𝓛𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓘𝓼 𝓥𝓪𝓷 𝓜𝓲𝓳 ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✶ ⋆⁺₊⋆

— 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒆 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍, 𝑫𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 (2025)

Why ruin something that was already perfect?

Literally every newer non-german production with a quarter of a budget of VBW has tried to incorporate something new into the source material. I'm not saying every interpretation or costume/staging worked in favour, but at least there's effort and a certain vision.

VBW has no right to keep serving us a watered-down version of a genuinely spectacular and deeply beloved musical.

(Also the audacity to call it the Celebrated Schönbrunn Version 🤔)

The vines in the Heinrich designs were created to represent death and decay. Sissi wore a dirndl in Wie Du as she hailed from Bavaria. The set design incorporated elements inspired by Habsburg carriages/hearses.

So what exactly do the new changes bring to the table?

Der Tod's veil is stripped away and replaced with a meme-worthy toy. He went from having 4 stunning well-crafted outfits to ONE painfully boring fit in the entire show.

Tod and Rudolf's relationship is diminished to the point where it no longer represents its original depth or significance.

Rondo is a misfit and doesn't even appear anywhere else in the show unlike the intended Japanese/Hungarian versions.

There is no glitz, no glamour, and most importantly the storytelling is compromised. Literally everything the musical stood for is reduced to nothing.

Most upsetting of all is the clear disregard VBW shows for the audience, who adore the musical and deserve more than this cheap execution, and for the immensely talented cast, who deserve a production worthy of their skills.

Someone said that Elisabeth das Musical is Death being "Hey bby unalive yourself so i can get 1 smoochie woochie with you" 😭

// Inspiration from Art //

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

• Portrait of Octavie Sennegon (later Madame Chamouillet) by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, 1833

• Amelia Clarkson as young Jane Eyre, 2011

• Portrait of Joséphine Koberwein (Youzia Iossifovna Koberwein) by Joseph Fricero, 1868

• Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, 2011

— ⋆ —

Possible Russian Production of Elisabeth, I Mourn You 🪦

Ik the photos are giving 'graphic design is my passion', but it was merely for a concert promo 🫂

Masquerade 🎭

📍𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒘, 𝑹𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒂 (2014)

Archduchess Sophie: You think you can just waltz in here, corrupting my son and daughter-in-law?!

Der Tod: Who said I waltz? (steps closer) Come, let me show you how I do it.

Archduchess Sophie: I’ll have none of your nonsense.

Der Tod: (leans in) Oh, Sophie. You’ll have everything I give you.

Love Never Dies Original Production and Moulin Rouge! (both set in the early 1900s)

Come away, O human child!

To be friends with trees and listen to the breeze

For when your heart is hurting or your soul needs healing

For when something feels wrong or you just need a place to belong

The forest awaits.