Salute to Vienna Stars of Stage — and Screen
- Laura Salvas
- May 9
- 2 min read
It takes more than just a pretty voice to perform the powerful numbers featured in Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert. Telling the story of each song and touching the hearts of those seated in the furthest row means flexing some theatre muscle. Is it any surprise, then, that some of your favourite Salute to Vienna performers dabble as thespians?
Tenor Brian Cheney may have popped up on your TV screen a few times lately, most notably appearing in an episode of American Horror Story. What got this Star Wars superfan extra-giddy was playing opposite Carrie Fisher's daughter, Billy Lourde. He also recently booked his first feature film role as Harold Stern in Summerhouse, a Vietnam war-era drama starring Malcolm McDowell. The film is slated to be released in August, 2025.
Thomas Weinhappel's deep, signature sound and emotive vocals helped land him a role in Michael Hanake's award-winning Austrian-French film The Piano Teacher. Auditioning with a difficult song he was familiar with as part of the Vienna Boys Choir repertoire and his trademark baritone voice sealed the deal on Weinhappel being cast.
Soprano Sera Gösch dreamed of being an actor from a young age. In elementary school, her teacher told her she would be an opera singer because her voice was naturally operatic. Gösch had no interest in the art form and stayed focused on her acting dreams until she started studying opera. The more she learned, the more she realized opera is simply acting through song and she was officially won over.
Conductors are actors, too! Alastair Willis was a leading lad in school, consistently cast in all the main male roles and would always "get to kiss the girl" in school plays. Willis humbly credits the disproportionately low number of male students at his school with his stardom, but we're certain it was due to his charming stage presence.
And what about those who have put their talents to work in film behind the scenes? Conductor Gregory Vajda composed and conducted music for the silent film The Crowd at the Auditorium of the Louvre, with solo pianist Jay Gottlieb.
Given the immense stage presence these singers and conductors bring to their Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert performances, it's no wonder these artists and many others have theatre training, film credits, and even TV agents. This New Year's, don't be shy about asking for a selfie with the stars after the performance — the perfect souvenir to share with starstruck friends!
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