Holds annual open-air opera performances on Europe's largest open-air natural stage in the St. Margarethen quarry
SBS Opernbetrieb Burgenland GmbH
St. Margarethen im Burgenland (festival grounds) · Eisenstadt (organization office) · Eisenstadt (ticket office)New on Amplifa
About Opera in the Quarry
SBS Opernbetrieb Burgenland GmbH organizes, under the Opera in the Quarry brand, annual summer open-air opera productions in the quarry of St. Margarethen in Burgenland, Europe's largest open-air natural stage. Since 1996 an international opera audience has gathered there; ownership lies with the Esterházy Private Foundation. In 2006 the festival grounds were extensively expanded by the Vienna-based architecture group AWG. Event organization and ticket sales are handled by the sister companies Arenaria GmbH and pan.event GmbH in Eisenstadt. In addition to the performances, B2B group offers, stage tours, the Opera Lounge, a shuttle service with accessibility service, and catering are offered. The productions of 2026 (Tosca) and 2027 (Rigoletto by Verdi) show the programme of the current and upcoming seasons. The site lies in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Lake Neusiedl between the Leitha Mountains and the steppe lake.
- Site
- Eisenstadt
- Processes
- B2B group offers, Stage tours, Opera Lounge, Shuttle service and accessibility service, Catering/Culinary offerings
- Materials
- B2B group offers, Stage tours, Opera Lounge, Shuttle service & accessibility
- Certificates
- Barrier-free access (ramp, sanitary facilities), Shuttle service from the parking lot to the grandstand, ISO certifications
- Founded
- 1996
- Industries
- Culture/Events, Tourism
- 01
Artistic conception and artistic direction
- 02
Production management and stage construction on the open-air natural stage
- 03
Organization and ticket sales (pan.event GmbH)
- 04
Catering, Opera Lounge and visitor service
- 05
Staging of the open-air performances
Offer & Services
B2B group offers
Group tickets with discount from 10 full-price tickets per performance.
Stage tours
Backstage glimpses behind the scenes of the open-air natural stage.
Opera Lounge
Catering accompaniment before the performances.
Shuttle service & accessibility
Free, barrier-free equipped shuttle bus from the main entrance to the foyer park.
Locations
St. Margarethen im Burgenland
ATFestival grounds / open-air natural stage (Europe's largest open-air natural stage), owner: Esterházy Private Foundation
Eisenstadt – Organization Office
ATOrganization office SBS Opernbetrieb Burgenland GmbH / Arenaria GmbH, Esterházy Palace
Eisenstadt – Ticket Office
ATTicket office pan.event GmbH, Esterházyplatz 4
Programme & Productions
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Audience Services & Accessibility
Visitors with restricted mobility receive a special service on site: dedicated parking areas, a barrier-free ramp to the grounds and to the grandstand, wheelchair-accessible sanitary facilities as well as a 50% discount. A free shuttle bus connects the main entrance and the foyer park.
| Evidence | St. Margarethen im Burgenland |
|---|---|
| Barrier-free access (ramp, sanitary facilities) | |
| Shuttle service from the parking lot to the grandstand | |
| ISO certifications |
History
- 1996
The St. Margarethen quarry becomes a meeting place for international opera lovers; annual open-air opera ever since
- 2006
Extensive expansion of the location under the ownership of the Esterházy Private Foundation by the architecture group AWG from Vienna
- 2026
Production: Tosca
- 2027
Production: Rigoletto (Verdi)