Letzte Runde

Rotenturmstrasse 20

1010 Wien

 

Bernstein and Karajan at the Hotel Sacher

For half a century, Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan were among the most famous figures in the world of classical music, yet also fierce rivals.

In 1988, Bernstein and Karajan's paths crossed in the Blue Bar of Vienna's Hotel Sacher. How their encounter unfolded remains a fascinating subject of speculation. Inspired by this true story, the American author Peter Danish wrote "Last Call," a play that premiered to great acclaim on Broadway in 2025.

The audience witnesses a final confrontation, revealing both enduring rivalry and mutual admiration. Even at the end of their lives, Bernstein and Karajan were by no means averse to conflict or lenient—quite the opposite: they asked the most personal questions with unflinching honesty and engaged in discussions about political responsibility. Karajan's proximity to the National Socialists was addressed, as was Bernstein's hedonistic lifestyle. But the film always returns to their great shared love: music. This summit meeting of two legendary figures is staged by the Israeli-American director Guy Ben-Aharon, who is making his Viennese debut with "Last Round," a story that is both lighthearted and musical, as well as reflective, about the limits and greatness of these two musicians.

(Source: josefstadt.org)