Musical of 'Fairy-tale King' Ludwig opens in Germany

Musical of 'Fairy-tale King' Ludwig opens in Germany

FUESSEN, Germany (DPA): A musical about 19th century Bavarian King Ludwig II made its world premiere at a theater within sight of one of the fairy-tale castles he built.

A star-studded audience was on hand for the opening night on April 7, among them the state premier of Bavaria, Edmund Stoiber, and soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer.

The musical Ludwig II - Longing for Paradise tells the story of a handsome but lonely king, whose vision of beauty brings him into conflict with the times.

The DM 74 million (US$37 million) production is being staged in a dazzling new theater near the town of Fuessen, close to the romantic Schloss Neuschwanstein that Ludwig had built from 1869 to 1886.

The 1,400-seat theater has the second-largest revolving stage in Germany after the Frankfurt Opera, and its elaborate sets include a 22-meter-long lake.

The musical is in three acts, written and directed by Munich author Stephan Barbarino. The music, by opera composer Franz Hummel, is performed by a full orchestra as well as by a Bavarian brass band.

While the dialog and songs are in German, translations will be projected on overhead screens in several languages, including English, Japanese, French and Italian.

The storyline also details Ludwig's unhappy love for his cousin, Austrian Empress Elisabeth, but makes no hint of the insanity that history says led him to commit suicide by drowning in 1886.

The ruler also has been the subject of biopics, including Visconti's Ludwig starring Helmut Berger, which portrayed him as a homosexual recluse.

The Munich-based production company Ludwig Musical AG & Co. (www.ludwigmusical.com) said there was heavy demand for tickets for the coming months.

About 1.3 million people visit Fuessen annually. The production company expected many of the visitors would be interested in the musical.