By Dathan Kazsuk | |
Durham might not have the Alps, but this October the hills—well, stages—will definitely be alive with music. From October 7–12, The Sound of Music marches its way into the Durham Performing Arts Center, and if you’ve ever belted out “Do-Re-Mi” in the shower or whispered “edelweiss” over a glass of wine, this is your chance to hear it live.
DPAC’s General Manager, Bob Klaus, says that the connection between the audience and performance has always been part of DPAC’s vision. “We always knew we’d have big, big Broadway shows, but I always had the goal that we would be much more than just a Broadway theater,” he explains. “That vision’s become incredibly true.” And when those big Broadway productions roll into town, it’s no small feat.
“The biggest Broadway shows are exceptionally big,” says Klaus. “The Lion King, in particular, is one of the biggest on tour, with almost 20 trucks. This coming season, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will take four days to set up before opening night.” While The Sound of Music doesn’t require quite that many moving parts, it still delivers a full-scale production worthy of DPAC’s stage.
Of course, the question becomes: What do you do after Maria and the von Trapp children say their final “So long, farewell”? Most people will drive home, maybe grab a nightcap, and call it an evening. But the real bucket-listers—the dreamers—will take that inspiration and book a plane ticket straight to Salzburg, Austria.
That’s where you’ll find Schloss Fuschl, a Rosewood property perched above the glassy waters of Lake Fuschl, where parts of the movie were filmed. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to spin in circles on the lawn, arms stretched wide, while somebody hums the overture in the background.
Rosewood is offering a “My Favorite Things” package, which takes your stay to another level. Sure, you could just check into a chain hotel and scroll Instagram, but why bother when you can be sipping wine on a terrace where the Alps practically photobomb you?
At Schloss Fuschl, expect lakefront views, a spa that begs you to cancel all future plans, and dinners that make you wonder why schnitzel never tastes this good back home. Prices hover in the high hundreds per night and can push past a thousand depending on the season—but, really, can you put a price on living in a movie scene? (Well, technically you can, and it’s a lot, but let’s not ruin the mood.)
The dinner menu itself reads like a love letter to Austria’s Salzkammergut region, where The Sound of Music found its roots. Guests begin with Sour Cream Soup—a traditional recipe steeped in local history, elevated here with Champagne, delicate Fuschlsee char, and the salty crunch of pork cracklings. From there, the table turns to refinement with the Salzburg Sturgeon by Walter Grüll—a zucchini blossom stuffed with ricotta and artichoke cream, delicately finished with tomato beurre blanc. And, in true Alpine fashion, the evening concludes with something sweet and familiar: a “Moosbeer Datschi,” paired with silky vanilla ice cream.
This thoughtfully crafted progression of dishes draws inspiration from The Sound of Cooking, the beloved cookbook by Johanna Raudaschl. Each plate honors the flavors of the past while reimagining them for today’s palate, much like the enduring story of The Sound of Music itself—rooted in tradition, but forever timeless in its ability to delight.
And if you’re picturing the von Trapp family today, it’s easy. Maria would be wandering the gardens at sunrise, humming “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” with a cup of coffee in hand. The Captain? He’d be in the lounge, brooding over a glass of Austrian red wine while listening to the pianist play “Edelweiss.” The kids would be racing through the hotel hallways, playing hide-and-seek between antique armoires. Even the Baroness might crack a smile, sipping tea in a salon that practically begs for her dramatic entrances.
Back in Durham, you’ll still have the rush of that standing ovation, the thrill of sitting in one of the best theaters in the Southeast, and maybe even a program tucked under your arm as a keepsake. But when you connect that to an Austrian castle where the movie came to life, the story doesn’t just end when the curtain falls. It keeps going—in the crisp mountain air, in a boat ride across Lake Fuschlsee, in the clink of Champagne glasses as the sun sets behind the Alps.
So here’s the real takeaway: Go see The Sound of Music at DPAC this October. Sing along (quietly, please—your neighbors will thank you). And then, when you’re back in the car humming “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” ask yourself—why not make it a bucket-list double feature? First Durham, then Salzburg. From stage lights to castle chandeliers, it’s the kind of once-in-a-lifetime mashup that turns a night at the theater into a memory you’ll be telling for years.
Because if Maria taught us anything, it’s that you can’t just dream about the hills being alive—you have to get out there and climb them. Preferably in Austria. And preferably with a nice glass of wine.
