When does the performance start and when is admission?

The performance starts at 19:30, admission from 18:30 in the Grand Town Hall of the Old Town Hall.

How long does the evening last?

The program duration is about 2 hours including a break; the end is planned for around 21:30.

How much do tickets cost?

There is free seating at the price of €30; discounts of €5 apply for members as well as students and trainees.

Is the venue accessible?

The town halls are partially accessible; a narrow elevator, stair lift, and ramp are available, a barrier-free restroom is located on the 1st floor.

Where does the event take place?

In the Town Hall, Grand Town Hall, Rathausplatz 2, 94032 Passau.

Is there a cloakroom and how do you get there?

Cloakroom service is customary on site; access is via the old town, parking facilities are located in the surrounding parking garages of the city center.

Opera Arias as Whistling Art: Nikolaus Habjan Enchants Passau's Town Hall

Name: Hot Air – A Whistling Concert with Nikolaus Habjan
Start: 2026-01-16T20:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-01-16T22:30:00+01:00
Location: Rathaus – Großer Rathaussaal

When opera melodies dance through the air: Nikolaus Habjan in Passau

An evening that combines the atmosphere of the theater with musical delight: The Austrian Nestroy Prize winner and art whistler Nikolaus Habjan presents his program "Hot Air" in the Grand Town Hall of Passau. Between punchlines and precision, a stage experience unfolds that makes operatic and operetta arias audible as virtuoso whistling art – with charm, wit, and compelling musicality.

The soundscape of whistling art: Virtuoso, Viennese, precise

Habjan guides with Viennese esprit through a repertoire spanning three centuries of opera and operetta history. The acoustics of the historic hall carry every tone clearly into the room; articulation and breathing technique become visible theatrical art. Thus, a rare mix of concert and scenic miniature emerges, where dramaturgy, timing, and musical phrasing seamlessly come together.

Dramaturgy between tradition and today

The staging idea honors an almost forgotten art form: the art whistling of the 19th century, once appreciated in Viennese variety shows and folk theaters. Habjan updates this tradition – with narrative moderation, fine humor, and a clear musical line. The audience experiences a vibrant small music history, condensed into concentrated scenes.

Stage design of imagination

Where props usually stand, the ear paints here: Light changes structure the evening, the historic hall frames the elegance of the performance. Costumes and presence remain minimal – in favor of a focus on sound colors, rhythm, and breathing. It is precisely this clarity that allows the audience's reaction to oscillate between amazement and amusement.

Practical: Time, place, arrival

The concert evening begins at 19:30, doors open at 18:30. The Grand Town Hall is located in the Old Town Hall at Rathausplatz 2. The town halls are wheelchair accessible to a limited extent (narrow elevator; stair lift/ramp), a barrier-free restroom is located on the 1st floor.

Conclusion

"Hot Air" is anything but hot air: a precisely constructed evening of breath, melody, and charm. Those wishing to hear opera literature anew will experience stage art with humor and high musical ambitions. Discover live in Passau now – and take home the magic of a whistled finale.