Music Music - Histoire(s) du Théâtre VII - Trajal Harrell - Vienna Festival 2026

American choreographer Trajal Harrell is one of the most important figures of his time. His unique style lies not only in his address of seemingly disparate dance languages and histories, but also in the subtle humour that pervades his work. After more than 20 years as a dancer and choreographer, Harrell has finally found the right context to realise an idea that has long been on his mind. With Music Music, he creates the seventh part of the series Histoire(s) du Théâtre and devotes himself to a central element of his artistic practice: music. For Harrell, music is not just accompaniment or stimulus for movement, but archived memory and history. In a new choreographic context, he now looks back on music that has remained in his consciousness. Revisiting/rehearing/re-feeling: what emerges after the passage of time? Music Music is an intimate and intense solo about the transformation of body and heart and thoughts over time.

Recommended for ages 12+

Duration: approx. 60 min

program

Music Music

Histoire(s) du Théâtre VII

Trajal Harrell

Place

The Volkstheater in Vienna (roughly translated as "People's Theatre") was founded in 1889 by request of the citizens of Vienna, amongst them the dramatist Ludwig Anzengruber and the furniture manufacturer Thonet, in order to offer a popular counter weight to the Hofburgtheater. It was erected according to designs by Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who attempted to reconcile their plans with historicism. It is located in Neubau, the seventh district of Vienna.

The founders of this stage had a theatrical stage in mind, in order to expose wider circles of the population of Vienna to classical and modern literature whilst staging these next to more traditional plays. The theatre follows this tradition even today. New productions of the classics are always in the pipeline along with regular reinterpretations of works by Ferdinand Raimund and Johann Nestroy and many new plays and reruns. Special attention is given to Austrian playwrights of old and new.

In 2005 Michael Schottenberg became art director of the Volkstheater.

In 2005 the Volkstheater started an alternative theater stage called "Volkstheater Hundsturm" in Margareten, the fifth district of Vienna. It is a place for experimental theater.