July 26 – August 31
The last of the interim seasons between Karajan and Mortier features a cycle of the seven great Mozart operas, including a new production of The Magic Flute by Georg Solti and Johannes Schaaf: the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death is the occasion for this large-scale project. On the whole, the Festival’s program is as large as never before, featuring 164 performances; its own productions are flanked by various guest appearances, such as eight performances by the Hamburg Ballet with John Neumeier’s choreographic interpretation of Mozart’s Requiem. The Salzburg City Council decides to rename Sigmundsplatz near the Pferdeschwemme “Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz” – in a ceremony on August 17, the “christening” is officially celebrated. On September 1, the “zero hour” of the new team of directors arrives: Heinrich Wiesmüller, Gerard Mortier and Hans Landesmann take over the Salzburg Festival. Director Peter Stein is their director of drama, having been appointed in March.

1991: New Festival directors: Gerard Mortier, Heinrich Wiesmüller and Hans Landesmann (left to right).
New production
Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Der Schwierige
Stage director: Jürgen Flimm
Stage sets: Erich Wonder
Costumes: Karl Lagerfeld
Landestheater
New production
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
Conductor: Sir Georg Solti
Stage director: Johannes Schaaf
Stage sets: Rolf Glittenberg
Costumes: Marianne Glittenberg
Großes Festspielhaus
World premiere
Production of the Salzburg Landestheater
Helmut Eder
Mozart in New York
Conductor: Hans Graf
Stage director: Lutz Hochstraate
Sets and costumes: Carlo Diappi
Landestheater
Transfer from the Easter Festival Salzburg
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Conductor: Bernard Haitink
Stage director: Michael Hampe
Stage sets: John Gunter
Costumes: Carlo Diappi
Großes Festspielhaus
Productions of the International Summer Academy Mozarteum and the Leipzig Opera
Bruno Maderna
Satyricon
Conductor: Udo Zimmermann
Stage Director: George Tabori
Sets and costumes: Master Class Herbert Kapplmüller
Studio of the Hochschule Mozarteum
World premiere
René Hirschfeld
Bianca
Conductor: Udo Zimmermann
Stage director: Uwe Wand
Sets and costumes: Master Class Herbert Kapplmüller
Studio of the Hochschule Mozarteum
Revivals: Die Jüdin von Toledo, Jedermann, Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, Idomeneo, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, La clemenza di Tito
Concert performance: Martinu's Julietta
8 Ballet Performances, 20 Orchestral Concerts, 10 Chamber Concerts, 4 Serenades, 10 Mozart Matinees, 3 Concerts „Mozart Rarities“, 8 Concerts „Mozart Ensemble of the Salzburg Festival“, 7 Solo Recitals, 8 Lied Recitals, 5 Church Concerts, 1 Cathedral Concert, 5 Literary Recitals
Opening Speach by Wolfgang Rihm: „Was ‚sagt‘ Musik?“
Details of the several years:
1990,
1991,
1992,
1993,
1994,
1995,
1996,
1997,
1998,
1999,
2000,
2001,