Birgit Minichmayr reads from "The Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennett.

"Very British" is the novel by Alan Bennett: In a very quirky way, the author explores the question of whether literature changes people. Read by the Burgtheater actress, with musical accompaniment by the countertenor and a string quartet. Who would have thought that a love letter to the Queen and literature would fit together so well? The actress Birgit Minichmayr reads, while countertenor Alois Mühlbacher and the Sonare string quartet provide music from old and new England, including works by Dowland, Purcell, Elgar, Britten, Queen, and the Beatles. The dogs are to blame. During a walk with the Queen, they run off to bark at the book bus of the district library, which parks weekly in one of the palace courtyards. Ma’am is too well-mannered not to apologize to the librarian, and out of courtesy, she borrows a book – and discovers a new passion. The effects of this majestic reading pleasure are unpredictable; the foundations of Buckingham Palace are certainly thrown into disarray, and the reader is left in tears of laughter.

Dramaturgy: Angelika Messner

Birgit Minichmayr, born in 1977 in Linz, received her acting training at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna. Even during her studies, she was engaged at the Burgtheater in Vienna. In 2004, she moved to the Volksbühne in Berlin, and in 2007 she returned to the Burgtheater, where she is currently a permanent ensemble member with some interruptions. The award-winning actress, who has received numerous accolades including the Ulrich Wildgruber Prize and the Nestroy Theatre Prize, is also seen in various film and television productions.

Alois Mühlbacher, born in 1995, gained attention as a soloist with the St. Florian Boys' Choir. "I have never heard such a boy's voice in my life" (Franz Welser-Möst). Joan Holender engaged him at the Vienna State Opera when he was just fifteen. He toured the world with the choir, achieving great success as a soprano soloist. His career continued seamlessly in the countertenor range, but he also has a special love for song singing. In addition to his singing career, he completed an acting degree in Linz.

The musicians of the Sonare string quartet are, among others, members of the Austrian Salonists, teachers in the Upper Austrian State Music School system, as well as chamber and orchestral musicians. Their repertoire ranges from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Jazz to contemporary music. The ensemble is particularly valued for its music-dramaturgical concepts, which have produced unique and highly acclaimed word-sound projects, including collaborations with Birgit Minichmayr, Karl Markovics, Wolfgang Böck, Fritz Karl, Nina Proll, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Alois Mühlbacher, and many more.