26 July – September 1

The drama program contains another Bernhard novelty: Claus Peymann, the author’s favorite director, launches Der Theatermacher [The Theater Maker]. Johannes Schaaf, famous worldwide for his work in drama, directs an opera for the first time in Salzburg: it is Richard Strauss’s Capriccio which he interprets together with conductor Horst Stein. Karajan, who is beginning to feel his age, reduces his activities and limits his operatic appearances to the revival of the Carmen production presented at the Easter Festival, featuring Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras and José van Dam in the main roles. Michael Hampe is the rising star of the season, not only because of his two productions on the playbill – apart from the revival of Così fan tutte, it is mainly the world premiere of Monteverdi’s Ulisse as adapted by Hans Werner Henze that receives attention – but because he is appointed one of the Festival’s directors after Heinrich Wiesmüller resigns.

1985: John Neumeier and the Hamburg Ballet's version of the St. Matthew Passion at the Domplatz.

World premiere
Thomas Bernhard
Der Theatermacher
Stage director: Claus Peymann
Stage sets: Karl-Ernst Herrmann
Costumes: Jorge Jara
Landestheater

New production
Paul Claudel
Der seidene Schuh
Stage director: Hans Lietzau
Sets and costumes: Ezio Toffolutti
Landestheater

New production
Richard Strauss
Capriccio
Conductor: Horst Stein
Stage director: Johannes Schaaf
Sets and costumes: Andreas Reinhardt
Kleines Festspielhaus

World premiere
Claudio Monteverdi
Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria (New version by Hans Werner Henze)
Conductor: Jeffrey Tate
Stage director: Michael Hampe
Sets and costumes: Mauro Pagano
Felsenreitschule

Transfer from the Easter Festival Salzburg
Georges Bizet
Carmen
Conductor and stage director: Herbert von Karajan
Stage sets: Günther Schneider-Siemssen
Costumes: Georges Wakhevitch and Magda Gstrein
Großes Festspielhaus

Production of the Salzburg Landestheater
Georg Friedrich Händel
Saul
Conductor: Ralf Weikert
Stage director: Federik Mirdita
Stage sets: Hannes Rader
Kollegienkirche

Revivals: Nathan der Weise, Jedermann, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Jephtha, Macbeth

Concert performance: Messiaen's Saint François d'Assise (3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th tableaux)

3 Ballet Performances, 14 Orchestral Concerts, 13 Chamber Concerts, 5 Serenades, 12 Matinees, 7 Solo Recitals, 9 Lied Recitals, 4 Church Concerts, 1 Choir Concert, 4 Literary Recitals

Opening speach by Jeanne Hersch: „Der Widerspruch in der Musik“

Details of the several years:

1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989,