Bregenz Festival technician dies before opening
Yesterdays (Tues) grand opening of the 65th Bregenz Festival (Bregenzer Festspiele) was overshadowed by the death of a staffer.Event organisers announced today (Weds) that the technician probably suffered cardiac arrest shortly before the beginning of the ceremony.The man whose age and identity were not revealed suddenly collapsed and colleagues and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.He was in charge for the impressive lakeside stages illumination.Giuseppe Verdis monumental opera “Aida” is the major attraction of this years edition of the festival which ends on 22 August.President Heinz Fischer as well as several federal ministers and high-profile Vorarlberg politicians attended yesterdays opening.The Bregenz Festival is Austrias most prestigious summer festival of opera, theatre and classical music alongside the Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) which is set to take place between 25 July and 30 August.