“Amol has to be gnua. I like it as good!” After almost half a century of career, the Austro-Pop legend Opus said goodbye to his audience with two sold-out evenings at the Graz Opera. Numerous musical companions from the local music scene were there. In addition to performances by Maria Bill, Reinhold Bilgeri and Willi Resetarits, there was an acclaimed mini reunion of the Styrian pop trio STS.
Founded in 1973 in Stegersbach, Burgenland, the formation around guitarist Ewald Pfleger, singer Herwig Rüdisser, drummer Günter Grasmuck and keyboardist Kurt-Rene Plisnier made a name for themselves in the Austrian pop scene within twelve years. Albums like “Eleven” and “Opusition” were able to place themselves in the charts in this country until Opus landed a surprising world hit with the single “Live is Life”.
This success brought Opus numerous appearances and tours around the world. Although they could not follow their hit in the charts, Opus always remained in the audience’s consciousness, at least in Austria, including the first in a series of benefit concerts in 2009 for the aid organization “Menschen für Menschen”.
These concerts – each with the support of an orchestra under the direction of Christian Kolonovits – have since taken place every two years in the Graz Opera. The farewell double evening on Monday and Tuesday was also dedicated to a good cause. Before the break, Ewald Pfleger presented the curator of “Menschen für Menschen”, Peter Krasser, with a symbolic check for 31,000 euros for the construction of a new school in Ethiopia.
The main thing that evening was of course the music. Opus took their audience through a good 30 songs in three hours. “At least one of each of our 16 albums”, as Rüdisser indicated the direction at the beginning. Musically perfect, Opus delivered all of their smaller hits like “Eleven” or “Flying High”. Even more unknown ones like the ballad potpourri “Another Day” https://www.puls24.at/ “Whiteland” https://www.puls24.at/ “Walking On Air” shone in the opulent Opus sound. In addition, there was the “Fake Or True” aimed at Donald Trump and an ode to Greta-Thunberg (“Greta”) close to the farewell album “Opus Magnum”.
Herwig Rüdisser – as accurate as ever in the high altitudes – once again proved to be the perfect front man who knows how to step into the background again and again. The two outstanding Opus singers Corry Gass and Inez Furtlehner moved into the limelight several times and Ewald Pfleger was able to shine as the lead singer.
The guest list was also impressive. Maria Bill sang her evergreen “I mecht so like landen”, birthday child Willi Resetarits (newly baked 73) was allowed to resurrect Ostbahnkurti with the Springsteen cover “Feia”, Reinhold Bilgeri steered “Video Life” and “Desperado” (also a cover , in this case by the Eagles) two Austro hits from the 80s.
The most memorable guest appearances were on the one hand that of Gert Steinbäcker solo (“grandfather” with full orchestral force), together with Schiffkowitz and Günter Timischl the immortal “Fürstenfeld” and on the other hand “Route 66” with Johannes Silberschneider as rock’n-roll whirlwind and Robby Musenbichler as reinforcement on the lead guitar. The actor Silberschneider, an Opus companion of the earliest days, also put a flawless duck-walk on the stage during his performance, which would probably have drawn respect from Chuck Berry himself.
Then came the inevitable and the most eagerly awaited by the audience. With the words “Enjoy it. This is the last time that you will hear it like that”, Rüdisser announced “Live is Life”. This was of course sung along with full throat and clapped through. After that, Opus asked all guests to come back on stage and programmatically sang “Bye Bye”. The very last encores of their memorable concert career were “Follow Me” by “Eleven” and “Don’t Say Goodbye” from 1996. The entire Opus family was presented once again, including all technicians, management and other helpers. Never ending standing ovations, of course.
We will miss Opus. As is so often the case, you only notice what you’ve had when it’s over.
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