Bad Ischl was a centre of the European operetta scene until the 1930s. It was here that popular, political, lustfully vicious forms of musical theatre were created, complex pieces full of abysses and laughter, until this rich and lively biotope was destroyed by National Socialism. In co-operation with the Lehár Festival and the Mozarteum University Salzburg, we want to revive this unique tradition and fill it with contemporary content. Three 20-minute short operettas by young composers and librettists will be selected in a competition and premiered at the Lehár Festival.