Votivkirche "Light of Creation" Review | Vienna Travel
Immersive shows are having their moment. Gone are the days of total separation between audience and stage. Now we have immersive dance, immersive theatre, immersive murder mysteries... and they all have one thing in common: light.
Or, more specifically, a combination of light, projections, and LEDs.
Light is one of the most versatile elements in stage play, and the tone it sets can mean the difference between comedy and tragedy.
Vienna's "Light of Creation" Immersive Light Show takes lighting design to a whole new level by transforming the entire Votivkirche (Votive Church) into a 360-degree surround-sound tank.
Conceptualized by opera singer and producer Max Emanuel Cenčić, it's a stunning symphony of aural, visual, and technological intersection.
In short, it's absolutely gorgeous.
"Light of Creation" is a 30-minute retelling of the Book of Genesis in six "acts." You don't have to be religious to attend or enjoy this spectacle.
"Light of Creation" weaves a captivating narrative of the formation of the universe through mesmerizing visual and auditory effects. The show is divided into six acts, each depicting a different stage of creation, from the emergence of light and the separation of water to the formation of land and the blossoming of life."
~ Light-of-Creation.com
The show has been running since November 29, 2024, and still going strong. It's a major attraction for tourists but without the hot crowds and stress (and I can imagine it must be good profit for the church as well).
Showtimes are 9:30 PM and 11 PM seven days of the week, so it is a late-night venture. I recommend booking online for a weekday to try to snag the best seat possible.
Tickets are a very reasonable 22 EUR for Category II and 27 EUR for Category I. The centre seats will give you a better vantage point overall, but the show will amaze you from any. The only caveat is that there are large chandeliers throughout the hall that might obscure your view a bit (not too big of a deal because the show is 360-degrees); the Category I seats are better at avoiding this.
Snapshots from Light of Creation. I've never seen an immersive show on a scale as large as this.
If you have the time and money, "Light of Creation" is one of those things I recommend doing twice. Once for the photos and videos, and once to just sit back and enjoy without distraction. I know I'm definitely going back this year on my Vienna summer trip.
Votivkirche itself is a beautiful neo-Gothic structure with massively high ceilings and intricate carvings. It's worth coming at least 15 minutes early to take a look, or even to scout it out during the daytime and walk around the park.
The glow from the church is enticing enough as it is.
I could rave on about it, but the show is best experienced in person. As my lighting design professor once said, "Light is magic."
Without a doubt, you will be awe-struck.
(For the technicians out there, you'll have a field day!)
For more adventures in Vienna:
Angela Xu