Nikolaus Habjan brings a buried treasure of our culture back to light: He creates a virtuosic whistled evening with popular arias from three centuries. Together with the pianist Daniel Nguyen, he presents a colorful selection of well-known opera and operetta arias and, with Viennese charm, guides the audience through the concert in a highly entertaining and humorous manner.

The now almost forgotten musical form of artificial whistling originated in the 19th century among the Austrian upper class. Nikolaus Habjan’s evening “Ich pfeife auf die Oper” (I whistle at the opera) has already been acclaimed in numerous theaters and concert halls, including the Konzerthaus Wien, the Schauspielhaus Graz and the Bregenz Festival.

Nikolaus Habjan, born in Graz in 1987, is a puppet maker, puppeteer, director and performer. He studied musical theater directing in Vienna and received the 2012 Nestroy Prize for his play “F. Zawrel – hereditary and socially inferior.” He is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and versatile artists of his generation in Austria and works at Schauspielhaus Graz, Burgtheater Wien, and others. He made his first guest appearance at euro-scene Leipzig in 2016 with four plays.

Daniel Nguyen, born in 1985 in Bregenz, studied piano at the Vorarlberger Landeskonservatorium in Feldkirch. He is a multiple prize winner of the Prima la Musica state and national competitions. He first collaborated with Nikolaus Habjan on the piece “Schlag sie tot” (2008). His main occupation is as a doctor in Baden near Vienna.