DER BESUCH DER ALTEN DAME

About the show

Claire Zachanassian, who has amassed a great fortune, returns to her Swiss hometown of Güllen after 45 years abroad. Once economically prosperous, the town is now utterly impoverished. Every possible expense is being slashed. Faced with this dire situation, it seems only natural to the mayor of Güllen to ask the distinguished visitor for help: he seeks a donation from Claire Zachanassian to save the small town from bankruptcy. Claire agrees to the request and promises the sum of one billion—provided the town complies with her demand to kill the local merchant, Alfred Ill. Ill had abandoned Claire, born Klara Wäscher, in her youth, leaving her with their illegitimate child. Seeking revenge, Claire now aims not only for the ruin of Güllen but also for Ill's corruption, plunging the entire town into a moral dilemma with her offer.