12 August 12 – 1 September

On 4 May, two days before the Second World War officially came to an end, American troops took control of Salzburg. Before the spring was over a decision was made to revive the Festival: Otto von Pasetti, an Austrian-born tenor who spent the Nazi years in exile and returned as a member of the occupying forces, was entrusted with the organizational work, and Baron Puthon returned to his office as president. On 12 August the Festival opened with an official ceremony in the Town Room (Stadtsaal) at which speeches were held by Puthon and the American general Mark Clark. Hugo von Hofmannsthal, whose works had been banned seven years before (except for his libretti for Richard Strauss), returned to the repertoire. Mozart’s Entführung aus dem Serail was broadcast on radio, even to the United States, and there were many concerts, most of which were given by the Mozarteum Orchestra. Two-thirds of the visitors were members of the armed forces; the rest of the tickets were distributed among Austrians. It was a rebirth, but far removed from normalcy.

1945: Waiting for the dress rehearsal of Die Entführung aus dem Serail (left to right): Ernst Reichart (associate conductor), Herbert Waniek (director), Felix Prohaska (conductor), Albin Skoda (Bassa Selim), Maria Cebotari (Constanze), Julius Patzak (Belmonte), Rosl Schwaiger (Blonde) and Walter Carnuth (Pedrillo).

New production
Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Der Tor und der Tod
D: Erwin Faber
Ds: Kurt Richter
Mozarteum

New production
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
C: Felix Prohaska
D: Herbert Waniek
Ds: Wilhelm Reinking
Landestheater

Opening soirée, 5 orchestral concerts, 1 solo recital, 3 choral concerts, 5 serenades, 6 Austrian soirées, 2 concerts of sacred music

Details of the several years:

1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959,