Audi 2011 Annual Report Download - page 48

show, the cars on the revolving stage.
Wagner is even more delighted by the
large LED wall in the hallway: “Three-
dimensionality on such a huge scale!
Although it actually isn’t 3D at all. I know
from my experience in the theater how
hard it is to create something like this.”
Act Two
A brief dialog:
Ms. Wagner, when it comes to cars are
you an epicurean or a rationalist?
“Both. A car naturally has to have
aesthetic appeal for me. When I do buy
a car, however, I also purchase the best
safety package available. Audi off ers
terrifi c features here, such as the lane
assist function.”
And what abo
ut fuel consumption?
“I drive a diesel because I spend a lot
of time on the road.”
What equipment is most important
to you – the sound system?
“Yes, that is very important to me. But
I need a Bluetooth connection to my
smartphone as well.”
Because you have saved all your
favorite operas on it?
“I prefer audio books when driving.
Music is often highly emotional. You
want to let yourself get caught up
in it, but that distracts me too much
from what’s happening on the road.”
Speaking of driving – the test drive in
the Audi Ring awaits.
Act Three
The director is still standing in the hall,
watching the various Audi models
drive in circles, almost like satellites.
The track forms the artery of the
Audi Ring, so to speak. It extends across
two levels and is 400 meters long in
total. Nine vehicles lap the circuit in a
meticulously choreographed plan. The
walls have several elongated openings
both inside and out, off ering frequent
glimpses of the cars as they speed past.
Not only is the sight impressive,
it makes viewers want to get behind the
wheel themselves. The festival director
passes through a white door and heads
to the starting line. Above the track, a
clock is counting down the seconds.
The next question therefore has to be
asked quickly: When is a production
perfect in your eyes? “When it triggers
something inside people. When they
don’t simply consume what they are
being off ered and then immediately
return to life as usual.”
Ten seconds, nine, eight ... then she
races off smiling in an R8 e-tron in
Suzuka Gray.
Epilogue
The car disappears with Wagner into
the dark tunnel, the tail lights turning
into red dots in the distance – it would
be a perfect closing scene. But it is not
the end. The highlight is still to come.
The R8 e-tron with Katharina Wagner
drives right onto the stage. She has a
delighted look on her face as she looks
out of the electric sports car at the
exhibition audience. “An unforgettable
experience. The visitor becomes a part
of the production here.” As an expert in
the fi eld, she is now interested in taking
a look behind the scenes. In this case,
that is the area between the outer skin
and the interior, where all the equip-
ment needed for making a show like
this run smoothly is concealed. “It looks
just like our backstage area,” says the
festival director. For her, the Audi Ring
at the IAA is a successful premiere.
O
Sheer delight: Experience
how the Audi Ring at the IAA
fascinates visitors.
Familiar territory in an
unfamiliar setting – opera
director Katharina Wagner
behind the scenes.
Experience _ 45