Stefan Bachmann Takes Over Burgtheater, Vows to De-Feudalize

Stefan Bachmann, a Swiss theater director, has assumed the artistic directorship of Vienna's Burgtheater, one of the most prestigious German-language stages. In an interview, Bachmann described himself as a 'little Swiss' who ventured into the Habsburg realm, now responsible for 'de-feudalization.' He praised the Viennese audience for its willingness to be both enthused and provoked, contrasting them with audiences in Zurich. The Burgtheater is celebrating its 250th anniversary, having long aspired to be the best German-language theater—a claim it has mostly lived up to.