On 2 June, the Opera Broadcasters Day brought together around 30 people from EBU radio organizations for an exceptional programme of activities at the Vienna State Opera (VSO). The ten VSO operas in the Euroradio Season, each taken by an average of almost 18 broadcasters, are available to EBU radio organizations via MUS.

Kindly organized by Euroradio Member ORF, the Broadcasters Day began with a guided tour of Vienna's legendary Opera House, including the historic 19^th-century part that survived the 1945 bombing. Participants were allowed on stage to watch the technical crew putting up the sets for that evening's performance of Beethoven's Fidelio. There were also visits to backstage venues never visible to the general public, such as the lighting rig above the theatre's grand chandelier.

The visitors were welcomed by Dominique Meyer, VSO Director, who gave a fascinating insight into the day-to-day operation of one of the leading international opera houses. Telling the group that he had "the best job in the world", Mr Meyer said that the VSO's over 50 different productions each year meant that the artistic and technical staff were always working simultaneously on three or four operas each week. He was particularly proud of the VSO's longstanding collaboration with the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic (known as the State Opera Orchestra when it plays in the pit) as well as the house's extensive outreach to young people, opera's audience of tomorrow. He added that through its collaboration with ORF, the VSO greatly appreciated being able to bring its repertory each year to millions of Euroradio listeners.

A special treat for the broadcasters was the opportunity to engage in conversation with artists from the VSO: Austrian baritone Adrian Eröd and French conductor Alain Altinoglu, both working on the new production of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande opening on 18 June, and Swedish soprano Camilla Nylund, singing the title role in that evening's performance of Fidelio. All three agreed that nothing could replace live opera broadcasts on the radio, with all the risks and unknowns that they entailed. "Things happen on stage," remarked Miss Nylund. "That is what makes live performances so exciting."

The EBU visitors were then the guests of the VSO for the evening performance of Fidelio, conducted by Cornelius Meister, whose star-studded cast also included Günther Groissböck as Rocco and Albert Dohmen as Pizarro.