On June 5 and 6, the Opera Studio of the ESMAE - Higher School of Music and Performing Arts presents a fresh and playful take on the classic *Der Schauspieldirektor*.
The world of opera and its backstage serve as the inspiration for the new production by the ESMAE Opera Studio: “The Impresario” (Der Schauspieldirektor), by W. A. Mozart. The work, originally a Singspiel that blends dance, theater, and music, is now brought to life through an adaptation and (re)text by António Durães, under the artistic direction of António Salgado and musical direction of Jan Wierzba. The piano accompaniment and the extensive technical team involve various departments of the school, from set design to costumes and lighting design.

The narrative centers on Frank, a high-profile impresario who, faced with insufficient funding for a production in Salzburg, finds himself immersed in a marathon of auditions. The central conflict—the struggle between unquestionable artistic quality and the pragmatism necessary to make a project viable—remains, according to the organization, “extremely relevant.” Although Mozart is the central figure, the production takes on the character of a “tribute to the broader repertoire.” Throughout the play, the candidates auditioning for the “impresario” perform famous excerpts from other iconic works such as Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, The Best of All Possible Worlds, and Saria possibile. The full production takes the stage at the Helena Sá e Costa Theater (THSC) on June 5 and 6.