Long ski pants are definitely a must, as is a winter coat, and just to be on the safe side, a blanket that you can wrap around yourself when the wind is whistling icy through the Passionstheater. In the past few weeks, experts have provided information on the question of what “one actually wears” at the finally rescheduled premiere of the 42nd Oberammergau Passion Play.
Probably an insight from 2010, when half of the audience suffered cold shocks at the premiere. But perhaps there is also a reminder from a learned position of attention that the people of Oberammergau had acquired. Because, as a reminder the games were postponed in 2020 because of the pandemicthen director Christian Stückl suffered a heart attack on the day Russian soldiers invaded Ukraine. So it was very unclear for a very long time what would happen and how. It is better to be prepared for cold feet.
All the more remarkable that absolute dream weather lies over Oberammergau, on May 14, the day of the rescheduled premiere. A weather that doesn’t even call for socks, but for Aperol Spritz. And when at half past ten, after a total of five hours of play, the last note fades away and only a fire bowl illuminates the empty cross and the huge room, it is as if several sighs of relief rose from the theater into the clear night sky. It’s done, finally.
The Archbishop of Munich, Reinhard Cardinal Marx (front left), and the Evangelical Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm led the ecumenical service before the premiere of the 42nd Passion Play on the stage of the Passion Theater.
(Photo: Angelika Warmuth/dpa)
The day began with the traditional service, now ecumenical, which Cardinal Reinhard Marx led with the Evangelical regional bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and at which you don’t even have to be there to find out that the master Christian Stückl personally lit a candle on the stage knocked over. The church representatives called for peace, standing in front of an oversized crown of thorns, which was brought to the theater in the afternoon and there developed into a coveted photo spot.
Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria, and Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, attended the state reception.
(Photo: Peter Kneffel/AFP)
4,400 guests were invited to the premiere, including companions and friends of the players, such as the entire “Brandner Kaspar” ensemble from Stückl’s Munich production, the actors Burghart Klaußner, Ben Becker, Dieter Hallervorden, crime scene-Inspector Udo Wachtveitl. TV celebrities such as presenter Eckart von Hirschhausen and Collien Ulmen-Fernandes were there, as were the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, and his predecessor Charlotte Knobloch.
The actors Udo Wachtveitl and Burghart Klaußner with Ilse Aigner, President of the Landtag.
(Photo: Peter Kneffel/AFP)
Media people like Dunja Hayali and Mathias Döpfner were there, as well as prominent politicians like Munich Mayor Katrin Habenschaden, former Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters, State Parliament President Ilse Aigner (CSU) and Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU). Half of the Bavarian cabinet was unmistakable in his presence, above all Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), who invited a few chosen ones to the state reception in the tent next to the Passion Theater during the break. For the rest of the guests to see, he walked around the Passion Theater several times with Oberammergau’s Mayor Andreas Rödl (CSU).
Oberammergau’s CSU Mayor Andreas Rödl (left) with Prime Minister Markus Söder and game director Christian Stückl.
(Photo: Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
The players rumored that Söder then freshened up in the dressing room of High Priest Kaiphas. Visiting the cloakroom is not only a tradition for the national team, but also in Oberammergau. As early as 2010, according to the then and current Jesus actor Frederik Mayet, Angela Merkel came into his dressing room to make a phone call while he was changing. Of course she turned away politely.
A dream day for strolling. Many guests use the three-hour break to visit the town and extensive visits to the inns.
(Photo: Angelika Warmuth/dpa)
The spectacle of the Passion Play begins the moment you arrive in Oberammergau. Almost as many visitors as residents come to the village on a normal passion day, there is a flicker of expectation in the air. People in festive wardrobe (the ski pants are parked in the hotel for the time being) and traditional costume are sitting in the ice cream parlors and restaurants, in front of the Hotel “Alte Post”, one of the first houses on the square, hotelier Anton Preisinger Junior is giving a last interview to a television crew before he Dashes towards the theater for his other job as a disciple, Johannes.
Cengiz Görür is particularly the focus of attention as Judas.
(Photo: Sebastian Beck)
In the theater or television business, it would be unthinkable for the stars to hang around outside minutes before the start of the performance, greeting friends or entertaining guests. In Oberammergau it would be unthinkable not to do that. Just before things get serious, Judas actor Cengiz Görür pedals through the village in a relaxed manner and takes the time for a short chat. As a Muslim, he is the focus of attention this time, alongside the actors performing Mary and Jesus. Above all, as will be seen shortly thereafter, he is a fantastic actor in the game, which is traditionally played by amateurs.
There is no compulsory corona test, no distance, not even a mask requirement on this day, which hardly anyone would have expected two months ago. The ranks of the largest covered open-air stage in the world are full when at 2.30 p.m. the angel (David Bender) steps to the edge of the stage and once again tells the story that everyone who comes to Oberammergau knows: How the village was ravaged by war and plague in 1633, how they vowed to stage a passion play from the last days of Jesus every ten years, if only the Lord God had an understanding with the village. According to legend, no one died from the plague after that, the rest is – very much alive – history.
Frederik Mayet, the actor who performed Jesus, gives interviews during the break with his hair freshened up after the Last Supper.
(Photo: Sebastian Beck)
“It feels as if something is now complete,” says Jesus actor Frederik Mayet after the performance, now back in costume and washed clean of theatrical blood. He let himself be tortured and hanged on the cross, the crown of thorns, he laughs, was accidentally pressed the wrong way around on his head, so thorns down, very painful. Now a break, a beer against all the adrenaline. It may be complete for the day, but until October 2nd he and his fellow players will take turns on the huge stage five times a week for a total of 109 performances. Now it really starts.
Reports and photos on the creation of the Passion Play 2022 can be found at sz.de/passionsdossier or in the digital kiosk of the SZ.