Start in Lofer

Hot start to rehearsals for shepherd children on the Alm

Julia, Rebekka, Valentin and Niklas during rehearsals on the Alm

(Bild: Salzmann Sabine)

A hot start for their "Advent job": 15 shepherd children will be on stage at the Advent Singing in the Grosses Festspielhaus. For many years, the event has kicked off on the Alm in Lofer, this time in late summer temperatures.

"Mei, wia i mi gfrefre!", a shepherd child shouts the line so full of enthusiasm that it is really infectious. Then the music begins: The strings play violins, clarinets, dulcimer, flute, trombone and harmonica.

At eight years old, Valentin is the youngest shepherd.

(Bild: Salzmann Sabine)

 "The children undergo an incredible development and benefit for life," says Markus Helminger, himself a shepherd child in the 1970s, then actor, choir member and now shepherd father, happily preparing for the new production of "Faith, Hope, Love" from the pen of overall director Hans Köhl.

There was a lot of music-making on the mountain pasture.

(Bild: Birgit Probst)

Great interest in shepherd role
Nine girls and six boys are part of the shepherd group this year. There were 30 applications, but only three new places were available. At eight years old, Valentin is the youngest.

A homesickness phase at the beginning of the shepherd days on the Soderkaseralm in Lofer was quickly overcome. "There are homesick cookies for that," reveals Gudrun Köhl-Korbuly, who always looks after the well-being of the real stars on the Alm. They are now busy rehearsing until the premiere at the end of November.