6000 spectators

High, higher, Hannibal: a spectacle of superlatives!

Director Hubert Lepka once again pulled out all the stops in 2024.(Bild: ernst lorenzi)

At dusk on Friday evening, 6000 spectators watched the breathtaking battle on the Rettenbachferner in Sölden. A cultural show that never fails to fascinate.

From the earliest times, the Roman Empire and the metropolis of Carthage seem to have been burdened by a hostile relationship, the legendary dimensions of which go back to the story of Dido and Aeneas. But then something stupid happened: Aeneas believes that Carthage is Rome, that this is what was meant - and thanks Venus a hundred times over: he would never have made Rome as magnificent as this Carthage was. And then there's this queen! Venus is raging with jealousy: "I said, 'Find the better Troy', not, 'Marry this cow'. "Reasons Rome - that's the plan!"

Energetic support from the air for the army
Hannibal has not forgotten how to do it. In 2024 AD, he marches across the Alps with his army, just as he did in 218 BC. Into the Second Punic War. The 60,000 soldiers from back then are now skiers, dancers, skidoo and motocross riders, the elephants are Pistenbullys; and the Carthaginian general also receives support from the air in 2024: from paragliders, planes from the Red Bull fleet and a Bundesheer helicopter.

Every dance, every turn on the snow groomer, every flight was meticulously planned.(Bild: Hubert Lepka)

The work - narrated by the fantastic voice of Harald Krassnitzer - is peppered with well-known sayings such as "Harry, pull up the car" (from the crime series Derrick). Pokémon cards are distributed among the soldiers as motivation, and the two Italian soccer legends Maldini and Simeone also have to enter the battle for Rome. And "breaking news" and TV duels including bare bottoms, broadcast by Carthage TV, are of course also a must in times like these.

The glacier show offered a cultural performance for all the senses.(Bild: ernst lorenzi)

Idea by Ernst Lorenzi and Didi Mateschitz & Lepka
The work of director Hubert Lepka and initiator Ernst Lorenzi (the man from Sölden came up with the idea together with his friend Didi Mateschitz in the late 1990s) once again captivated visitors. The 6,000 visitors, including 100 "Krone" readers, were amazed at the Rettenbachferner. No wonder: explosions, spectacular helicopter interludes directly above the heads of the spectators, breathtaking maneuvers by the Pistenbully drivers, a (controlled) avalanche, "burning" paragliders - you don't get to hear, see and feel this in any cinema in the world. And all this in the middle of the wonderful natural surroundings at 3000 meters. A total of 70 minutes of pure goosebumps.

You have to see Hannibal once
It is difficult to put into words what was on offer in Sölden. You simply have to see it. Everyone who was there for the first time was amazed. A big compliment to the initiators: Sölden and Red Bull, together with the artist network Avalanche Torrèn, once again staged the Hannibal Crossing of the Alps to great effect. The weather - an important player - also gave its all. We can already look forward to 2026. Because even if the story remains the same, every performance is unique. But beware: the play is truly addictive.