Travelers who are very fond of art and culture have something to watch out for in Vienna. Next month, Ben Hur Live will be staged in the Austrian capital just in time for the 50th anniversary of the classic film.
This particular show took 15 years to make and will feature more than 400 performers and animals. The venue will be the Vienna Stadhalle which will be transformed into an ancient arena for the Ben Hur performance. Based on the novel by Lew Wallace entitled Ben Hur – a Tale of Christ, the show is a must see as it’s going to feature unique pyrotechnic effects plus a mix of light, sound, wind and water.
Hollywood composer Klaus Badelt is the man behind the soundtrack. The cast includes more than 400 people plus animals of various kinds from chickens, falcons and eagles to camels, donkeys and horses. And just to let you in on a secret, the horses that will be used for the production are no ordinary ones because they went through one year of intensive training just for this show.
The show’s highlight that Ben Hur fans should look forward to is the chariot scene. This part will feature five quadrigas in a competition around the arena ground. Just so you know, this show is only performed at venues which can be converted into a special arena that can accommodate high speed chariot racing.
Ben Hur Live will take place on February 9 and 10. After Austria, it will also tour other parts of Europe this 2010 such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Hungary, France and Spain. The show premieres in London in September.
A widely acclaimed performance, the story of Ben Hur Live revolves around the life and destiny of Judah Ben Hur, a Jewish prince during the start of the first century. For more information about this show and for tickets, visit www.benhurlive.com.
