Each Imago Dei concert is preceded by an introduction, a “prelude” lasting around 20 minutes. There are discussions with the musicians performing that evening or with people who have a special connection to the theme, as well as readings. We would like to introduce some of our guests here.

March 13: JULIAN SCHUTTING, born in Amstetten. For over 50 years, one of the leading and most distinctive voices in German-language literature. Author of more than 60 books, including “In der Sprache der Inseln”, “Das Eisherz sprengen”, “Metamorphosen auf Widerruf”, “Winterreise” and, most recently, the three-volume “Auf vertrauten Umwegen”. Numerous awards, including the Anton Wildgans Prize, the Georg Trakl Prize for Poetry, the Gert Jonke Prize and the H.C. Artmann Prize. An attentive walker and observer and also a trained photographer, Julian Schutting will write a new text for Imago Dei, choosing two of the many themes of our festival as starting points: water and transience.

March 14: ERNST MOLDEN, born in Vienna. Musician, poet, songwriter. Around 30 albums, including the cycles “Schdrom” (2016) and “Fliagl” (2024). Longstanding band with Willi Resetarits, programmes with Der Nino aus Wien, Christoph Seiler, the Frauenorchester, and many others.

March 20: TARA MICHELSEN, born in Berlin. Drama student at MUK Vienna. First stage experience at RADA in London and the Royal Conservatory in Scotland. Appeared in several TV and film productions (including “Pfau – bin ich echt?”) as well as theatre productions at the Theater der Jugend and Schauspielhaus Wien.

March 29: MARKUS MEYER, born in Cloppenburg. Studied at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin. Previously completed a degree in biochemistry. 1999–2004: member of the Berliner Ensemble. Since 2004: member of the ensemble at the Burgtheater in Vienna. Sought-after actor for television and film. Numerous awards, including “Actor of the Year” (ORF radio play jury) in 2015. Professor at the MUK Vienna since 2014.

April 2: VALENTIN INZKO, born in Suetschach/Sveće, Carinthia. Austrian diplomat: 2009–2021 High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; 2009–2011 EU Special Representative; 1996–1999 Austrian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina and 2005–2009 to Slovenia; 1986–1989 Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy to the UN.

April 3: UNA NOWAK, born in Vienna. Studied acting at Vienna's English Theatre and at MUK Vienna. Worked in television and film (including “Sexplanation”) as well as at Theater der Jugend (“Der Junge mit dem längsten Schatten”), Schauspielhaus (“Juices”), and Burgtheater (“Lecken 3000”).

Two exceptional artists are working together for us for the first time on two special evenings: March 28 and April 6, 2026. Here, we would like to introduce them in more detail.

When she starts playing her recorder or baroque oboe, it goes straight to the heart, whether it's Mozart, John Dowland or even lesser-known music. Carin van Heerden stresses time and again that she is not the head of the ensembles that she performs with for us. And yet she plays a key role in the dramaturgical programmes of Element of Prime, the recorder consort founded in 2015, and the wind ensemble of the L'Orfeo Barockorchester, which she co-founded in 1996. Van Heerden was born in Cape Town and came to Europe to study, winning several international competitions during her training, including the ARD Music Competition in Germany. As a teacher, she has lectured at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, the Cologne University of Music and Dance, and the Anton Bruckner University in Linz. Her music can be heard on more than 50 CDs. She also translated the reference work “The Eloquent Oboe” on the baroque oboe (Die gleichsam redende Hoboe, 2018) and curates the concert series “Alte Musik – Neu gelesen” (Early Music – Reinterpreted) in Linz – further proof of her versatility as a musician.

Her voice immediately captivates her audience, and her performance is marked by precision and versatility. To describe Dörte Lyssewski merely as a sought-after actress would be a serious understatement. At the Salzburg Festival, she appeared as Buhlschaft in “Jedermann” as well as in marathon readings and numerous musical productions. She is currently cast in a new version of Kraus’s “Die letzten Tage der Menschheit” (The Last Days of Mankind), a co-production of the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna Burgtheater, where she has been a member of the ensemble since 2009. Born and educated in Hamburg, Dörte Lyssewski initially performed at the Schaubühne Berlin for seven years. Guest performances led her to many other stages in Germany, to Zurich, and to the Odéon in Paris. She also writes books – a recent collection of poems was presented at the Leipzig Book Fair in 2025 – and has worked as a director, including Mozart’s “La Finta Gardiniera” at the Salzburg State Theatre. Lyssewski can be heard in numerous radio productions. In 2025, she was named “Actress of the Year” at the Austrian Ö1 Radio Play Gala. Always eager to take on exciting projects, the artist loves connecting ideas from music and literature. And, by the way, she is the German voice of Cate Blanchett, for example in “The Lord of the Rings.”