Ars Electronica's big concert night 2025

International Brucknerfest 2025. In Viktor Ullmann's opera "The Emperor of Atlantis" composed in the Theresienstadt ghetto, Emperor Overall declares the "war of all against all". But death does not play along.

The Great Concert Night has been a highlight and crowd-puller at Ars Electronica since 2003. In 2025, it marks the end of the Second World War 80 years ago and once again turns the Postcity track hall into a spectacular stage for this evening, where orchestral music and visualised productions meet.

The Emperor of Atlantis or The Refusal of Death is an opera by Viktor Ullmann written in 1943-44 in the Theresienstadt ghetto. He wrote the libretto together with Peter Kien. A performance in Theresienstadt was banned after the dress rehearsal and Ullmann and Kien were murdered in Auschwitz in October 1944.

In the opera, Emperor Overall declares a "war of all against all", but Death, who is to lead the campaign, no longer wants to be the despot's henchman and goes on strike. No one can die any more and the emperor loses his power. Finally, Death offers to resume his work if the Emperor is willing to be the first to follow him.