“The Festival Product is just right!” – New study on the economic importance of the Salzburg Festival

( 21 Dec 2011 ) The enormous economic importance of the Salzburg Festival for the region and all of Austria is demonstrated by a study conducted by the Center of Future Studies at Salzburg’s University of Applied Sciences, led by Dkfm. Bernd Gaubinger, which was presented today (December 21, 2011) during a press conference with Festival President Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler.

Providing 200 year-round jobs and more than 3,600 summer jobs, the Salzburg Festival is an important employer in the region. Its tax and social insurance contributions alone provide the state with more revenue than the sum of the subsidies paid to the Festival for the same year. “Ever since its founding, the Salzburg Festival has been the artistic and economic motor for an entire region. This motor is stronger today than ever: the overall economic effect has grown to 276 million Euros – more than ever before!” Helga Rabl-Stadler said.

At the same time, the analysis yielded impressive data about the characteristics of Festival visitors: the average Festival visitor from outside Salzburg stays in Salzburg for a week, attending four performances, frequenting a higher-class hotel in the city of Salzburg and spending a total of 2,220 Euros on accommodation, food, shopping and other expenses for the entire duration of his or her stay, plus an average of 550 Euros on Festival tickets. Most people attend Salzburg Festival performances in pairs, but stay in Salzburg during the Festival in groups of three. With an average of 18 previous visits to the Festival, this visitor can be called a long-term regular guest. “The Festival product is just right!”

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Peter von Matt To Give Keynote Address In 2012

( 19 Dec 2011 ) Landeshauptfrau Gabi Burgstaller and Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler have agreed that starting in 2012, the Festival will invite the speaker for the keynote address at the Festival’s opening ceremony. The keynote speaker for 2012 has already been chosen. Artistic Director Alexander Pereira suggested Peter von Matt, who has accepted.

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Salzburg Festival Mourns Death of Václav Havel

( 18 Dec 2011 ) “The Salzburg Festival mourns the passing of a wonderful writer, a courageous politician in difficult times, and an upright man,” Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler said. In 1990, just after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Václav Havel gave the keynote address at the Festival’s Opening Ceremony.

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“Mojo” celebrates premiere at London’s Barbican

( 16 Dec 2011 ) Today, December 16, the Ensemble Theatre-Rites celebrates the premiere of Mojo at London’s Barbican. As part of the 2012 Salzburg Festival, the play for children (and adults) directed by Sue Buckmaster will also be performed in Salzburg. We bring you a brief preview of this enchanting co-production.

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The Salzburg Festival continues its successful cooperation with the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus

( 14 Dec 2011 ) The Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus has been appearing without interruption at the Salzburg Festival’s opera performances and concerts since 1923.  On December 13, two members of the Executive Committee of the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Dr. Eliza Marian-Zurmann and Michael Knapp, as well as Festival president Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler and Artistic Director Alexander Pereira signed a framework cooperation agreement for the coming five years.

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Bienvenue à Paris!

( 8 Dec 2011 ) This week, the Salzburg Festival paid its respects to its friends in Paris. After 15 years, the Festival program could finally be presented again at the heart of the Grande Nation. 

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Successful Presentation by the “Friends” in Munich

( 2 Dec 2011 ) This week, the “Friends of the Salzburg Festival” invited their Munich-based supporters to the Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz in order to present the 2012 Festival program. 300 Friends heard from Artistic Director Alexander Pereira, Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler and Director of Drama Sven-Eric Bechtolf what to expect from the 2012 season of the Salzburg Festival …

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Award for Siemens Festival>Nights

( 24 Nov 2011 ) Since 1989, the Economic Committee IWK has presented the Austrian Arts Sponsorship Prize MAECENAS every year, in cooperation with ORF and with the support of the Chamber of Commerce. Siemens Austria has received the Recognition Prize in the category “Long-Term Sponsoring” for the Siemens Festival>Nights as part of the Salzburg Festival, a series of events that has become a beloved Festival tradition.

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The Salzburg Festival Mourns Sena Jurinac

( 23 Nov 2011 ) “Sena Jurinac gave the Festival magic moments for which both audiences and critics celebrated her in equal measure” – with these words, Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler expressed her sadness at the passing of this wonderful singer. In Salzburg during the post-war period, she was among the artists who gave the Festival its outstanding international reputation.

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1 Million Dollars for the ZAUBERFLÖTE (MAGIC FLUTE) on Period Instruments

( 16 Nov 2011 ) This is the wonderful result of the fundraising campaign of the American Friends of the Salzburg Festival in New York. This project was taken on by the Salzburg Festival Society represented by Gerhard Andlinger and Isabelle Harnoncourt two months after the nomination of Artistic Director Alexander Pereira in 2009.

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Grand Theatrical Magic – The Program of the 2012 Salzburg Festival

( 11 Nov 2011 ) On November 11, Artistic Director Alexander Pereira and Director of Drama Sven-Eric Bechtolf unveiled the eagerly anticipated program of the next Salzburg Festival, together with President Helga Rabl-Stadler. The new artistic leadership team presents new productions of classics of opera and literature, numerous world premieres and several innovations.

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Reorientation of the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award and Extension of Nestlé’s Sponsorship

( 7 Oct 2011 ) At a press conference in Zurich, essential new developments for the “Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award” were announced: the award will be expanded by an Award Concert Weekend in April, and conductor Ingo Metzmacher becomes chairman of the jury.

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Alexander Pereira begins his tenure as Artistic Director of the Festival, Sven-Eric Bechtolf is the new Director of Drama

( 1 Oct 2011 ) Since today, October 1, 2011, Alexander Pereira is the new Artistic Director of the Salzburg Festival. At the same time, Sven-Eric Bechtolf becomes Director of Drama at the Salzburg Festival. President Helga Rabl-Stadler will continue to be responsible for the business agenda of the Festival. On November 11, the new Directorate will introduce the audience to the program of the 2012 Salzburg Festival.

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Cleopatra – In the Labyrinth of Eros and Power

( 29 Sep 2011 ) Cecilia Bartoli, the new Artistic Director of the Whitsun Festival, has chosen Cleopatra, the legendary woman with a thousand faces, as the theme of her first program. The opulent musical journey (from May 25 to 28, 2012) includes a scenic opera production, a reading and many high-carat concerts with Anna Netrebko, Andreas Scholl, Vesselina Kasarova, Piotr Beczala and many other outstanding artists.

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The Final Chapter

( 30 Aug 2011 ) The time has come. It’s the big finish, the grand finale, the end. I want to say thank you to Salzburg, the Festival, the cast and crew of Così, and all you brave readers out there for a great summer. As I sit here in my attic apartment, in a full-body sweat with fans blasting to no avail, I can’t help but wish we had more time together. 

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Jedermann prepares to die – for the 600th time

( 29 Aug 2011 ) Without fail, he attracts audiences every year – since 1920. Jedermann is a unique and rare success story. And the story of the rich dandy who has to account for himself is still popular after more than 90 years. On August 29, the successful play is performed for the 600^th time at the Salzburg Festival.

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Eine erfolgreiche Saison geht zu Ende

( 28 Aug 2011 ) Nur noch zwei Opernabende stehen für unser Orchester auf dem Programm der diesjährigen, sehr erfolgreichen Festspiele in Salzburg. Berichten möchte ich noch kurz von unserer alljährlichen liebenswerten Tradition, in einer der letzten Salzburg-Proben die in den Ruhestand tretenden Kollegen im Kreise des Orchesters zu verabschieden …

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Gert Voss: Honor, Award, Film Premiere

( 27 Aug 2011 ) On Friday, August 26, 2011, the film premiere of Scheitern, scheitern, besser scheitern! with Gert Voss and Harald Schmitt took place at DAS KINO Salzburg at 8:30 pm. After this, the character actor Gert Voss received the Kurier’s Romy Award and the Grand Decoration of Honor of the State of Salzburg.

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Final Press Conference of the 2011 Salzburg Festival

( 26 Aug 2011 ) Today, August 26, saw the final press conference of the 2011 Salzburg Festival. Figures and facts on the highly successful summer season were presented to the press. The percentage of seats sold is projected at 95% and the number of visitors at 251,062 – thus, this summer’s Festival was once again particularly popular with the audience. 

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Decoration of Honor for Director of Drama Thomas Oberender

( 25 Aug 2011 ) Landeshauptfrau Gabi Burgstaller presented the Grand Decoration of Honor of the State of Salzburg to Thomas Oberender on August 24. The Director of Drama of the Salzburg Festival, who will be leaving this position shortly, was honored for his professional, artistically valuable and extremely successful services to the Festival by the Landeshauptfrau.

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Symphony of a Missing Room wins Montblanc Young Directors Award

( 24 Aug 2011 ) The jury has decided – the winners of this year’s Montblanc Young Directors Award are Christer Lundahl and Martina Seitl. This morning, they accepted the prize for the best director for their piece Symphony of a Missing Room, a poetic tour of Salzburg’s Museum der Moderne. 

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Endspurt bei den Festspielen

( 23 Aug 2011 ) Der Endspurt bei den Festspielen hat begonnen: Für die Wiener Philharmoniker ist vergangene Woche die letzte Opernpremiere (Don Giovanni) erfolgreich über die Bühne gegangen. So neigt sich ein Sommer, in dem wir Künstler unsere Erfahrungen in verschiedensten Stilrichtungen einbringen – so wie auch viele neue sammeln konnten –, dem Ende zu.

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Clemens Krauss Medal for Festival President

( 22 Aug 2011 ) Since 1977, the Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus  has awarded the Clemens Krauss Medal to personalities who have distinguished themselves with special service to the Concert Association. This year, the honor goes to Festival President Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler. The ceremony took place on August 22 at the SalzburgKulisse at the Haus für Mozart.

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Song Recital 4: Keenlyside replaces Quasthoff

( 22 Aug 2011 ) On August 22 at 8:30 pm, the fourth song recital of this year’s Salzburg Festival takes place. Due to illness, Thomas Quasthoff has been forced to cancel his performance in Salzburg. We are very happy that Simon Keenlyside has agreed to perform the same repertoire in his stead: Franz Schubert’s Winterreise, settings of poems by Wilhelm Müller – with Pierre-Laurent Aimard at the piano. 

Attack of the pineapple juice: a cautionary tale

( 20 Aug 2011 ) While I am prone to stay indoors and enjoy the rainy weather, much has happened: Most recently, I had a crisis with my computer. In a bout of clumsiness, I spilt pineapple juice over my laptop. As a laptop is an important piece of equipment for any international traveler, I quickly decided this was a mistake and followed the “Dang, I’ve Just Murdered My Laptop With Liquid” panic list.

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Daniel Barenboim receives 2011 Tolerance Award

( 20 Aug 2011 ) On August 19, Daniel Barenboim conducted a concert of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at the Großes Festspielhaus. After the concert, the exceptional artist was ceremoniously presented with the annual Tolerance Award of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. The prize went to Daniel Barenboim for his artistic initiatives, in which true tolerance comes to life and is promoted.

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KISS. GOOD. BYE.

( 19 Aug 2011 ) Le nozze di Figaro ist abgespielt und der Engel Uli Kirsch wieder auf dem Weg nach Hause. Noch im Zug lässt er die Zeit in Salzburg Revue passieren und das Publikum an seinen schönsten Momenten teilhaben. Der Abschied war schwerer als erwartet, denn Salzburg hat in den letzten fünf Jahren sein Leben verändert. Wohin die Reise des Engels geht und ob sie ihn nach Salzburg zurückführen wird, bleibt abzuwarten. Wir wünschen uns: „Uli, komm bald wieder!“

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Better than ever: 5 x YDP in one day!

( 18 Aug 2011 ) YDP stands for “Young Directors Project” – powered by Montblanc – one of the three successful young artist training projects at the Salzburg Festival, next to the “Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award” and the “Young Singers Project” – a cultural engagement of Credit Suisse.  This summer, on the occasion of the ten-year anniversary of the project, five productions will be shown as part of the fascinating competition for young stage directors. On August 20, all five pieces are on the Festival playbill. Remaining tickets for individual performances are still available.

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Claus Guth receives “Großes Verdienstzeichen” of the State of Salzburg

( 17 Aug 2011 ) This morning (August 17), Claus Guth was presented with the “Großes Verdienstzeichen” (Grand Medal of Honor) of the State of Salzburg by Landeshauptfrau Gabi Burgstaller. The theater and opera director has made a decisive contribution to the quality and success of the Salzburg Festival through his many productions here. In this manner, the State of Salzburg and the Festival expressed their gratitude to the visionary stage director. 

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Salzburg Festival Children’s Chorus – On Stage with the Stars

( 17 Aug 2011 ) Singing in the Children’s Chorus means to experience the grand world of opera and concert on stage: to be part of a production together with singers, chorus and orchestra, and to get to know not only the music, but also work in the theater.

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Rain, rain, rain …

( 15 Aug 2011 ) Rain, rain, rain … And I have rented a big house with a pool for my family. But would the weather stop my seven-year-old son? Of course not. When I got back from rehearsal two days ago, he could swim!!!

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In memoriam Karl Böhm

( 14 Aug 2011 ) 30 years ago today, on August 13, 1981, Karl Böhm died at the age of 87 in Salzburg. Next to Herbert von Karajan, the Graz-born conductor had the most lasting influence on the Salzburg Festival. He made his Salzburg debut in 1938 with Don Giovanni. We commemorate Karl Böhm, whose Mozart and Strauss interpretations charmed audiences …

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Enormous Artistic and Social Success

( 13 Aug 2011 ) Today’s benefit dress rehearsal of the concert performance of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta and Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol netted 158,065 Euros for the reconstruction of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Japan. The City of Salzburg will increase the amount to a round 200,000 Euros.

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The car rules!!

( 13 Aug 2011 ) The premiere of Don Giovanni is getting nearer and nearer and now the whole team has moved to the Haus für Mozart for the following rehearsals. The first time on the main stage, Joel Prieto once again has some troubles with the car. No trees this time, but nevertheless the car is ruling the stage again.

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10 Fragen von Uli Kirsch an Marlis Petersen

( 13 Aug 2011 ) Cherubim Uli Kirsch stellt Susanna Marlis Petersen zehn Fragen zu den Charakteren in Le nozze di Figaro und zu privaten Begegnungen mit einem Engel.

Liebe Marlies, was ist für dich der aufregendste Moment im Figaro?

Der Figaro ist für mich voll von aufregenden Momenten. Susanna geht ja quasi nahtlos durch das ganze Stück, und ein spannendes Ereignis jagt das nächste.

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10 Fragen von Marlis Petersen an Uli Kirsch

( 12 Aug 2011 ) Marlis Petersen (Susanna) stellt Uli Kirsch (Cherubim) zehn Fragen zu seiner Rolle bei Le nozze di Figaro und zu seinen Tabus als Schauspieler. Für die Einblicke sollten Sie hier

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And the Winner is … Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award 2011

( 11 Aug 2011 ) The announcement of this year’s winner of the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award has been eagerly awaited. The winner’s name is Ainārs Rubiķis. The rising young conductor will be heard already on August 13 at the Felsenreitschule. There, he will conduct the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra at 8:00 pm at the Final Concert of the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award. A night to look forward to!

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Netrebko and Beczala sing for Japan

( 10 Aug 2011 ) The Salzburg Festival and its artists are not just dedicated to cultural values, but also social ones. Therefore, the dress rehearsal of Iolanta / Le Rossignol on Saturday, August 13, at 2:00 pm will be opened to the public at the Großes Festspielhaus, as a benefit event. Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala as well as the Mozarteum Orchestra under Ivor Bolton and all the other performers involved will contribute to the good cause. The net proceeds will go to Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Japan, which was almost completely destroyed in the earthquake this past March.

Tickets, priced from 30 to 120 Euros, can be purchased starting immediately online.

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Inextricably Linked: Salzburg Festival and Vienna Philharmonic

( 9 Aug 2011 ) On August 9, Landeshauptfrau Gabi Burgstaller presented the members of the world-famous ensemble with high decorations of the State of Salzburg: “The Vienna Philharmonic and the Salzburg Festival are inextricably linked, and shall remain so. The world-famous orchestra is the artistic center, even the quality guarantee for the Salzburg Festival.”

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Ein ganz besonderer Don Giovanni!

( 9 Aug 2011 ) Erich Schagerl berichtet in seinem heutigen Blog von den Proben zu Don Giovanni. Wenn die Musiker, Sänger und der Dirigent sich aufeinander einlassen können, dann wird die Probe lebendig und dynamisch. Mit dem jungen Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin zu arbeiten ist ein ganz besonderes Vergnügen – und auf das Ergebnis, die Premiere des Don Giovanni, darf man mehr als gespannt sein.

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200th Performance of Così fan tutte

( 7 Aug 2011 ) On August 7, 2011, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Così fan tutte will be performed for the 200^th time at the Salzburg Festival. This year, Marc Minkowski conducts his Musiciens du Louvre. Director Claus Guth has reworked his 2009 production complete, presenting the work even more compactly, as an intelligent chamber drama full of symbols and allusions. The first performance of Così fan tutte at the Salzburg Festival took place in 1922 …

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The Blue Sofa Returns to the SalzburgKulisse

( 7 Aug 2011 ) It’s the fourth stop of the “Blue Sofa” at the Salzburg Festival. This time, Wolfgang Herles will discuss the question of how music, theater, dance and literature can be conveyed in a successful manner to audiences with Sasha Waltz, Alfred Brendel, Hans Neuenfels and Markus Hinterhäuser. Free tickets for the show on August 8 at 3:00 pm at the SalzburgKulisse at the Haus für Mozart are available.

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“The Monster of Power, The Power of Man“

( 7 Aug 2011 ) That was the subject of the ZEIT FORUM KULTUR public conversation on August 6 at 11:00 am at the SalzburgKulisse. This time, Josef Joffe welcomed Bruno Ganz, Markus Hinterhäuser and Karl Schwarzenberg to discuss the eternal question of power.

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Ö1 Klassik Treffpunkt at Salzburg’s Landestheater

The popular classical live broadcast Ö1 Klassik Treffpunkt makes its traditional stop in Salzburg, at Salzburg’s Landestheater. Renate Burtscher will talk to Thomas Oberender, who brings not only pointed observations, but also a varied musical selection to the program. The event takes place live on August 6 from 10:00 am onwards at the Logenfoyer of Salzburg’s Landestheater.

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Triangel, Zweistein … ein Traum

( 5 Aug 2011 ) Nach der eigenen Premiere hat man es in Salzburg gut. Die Proben sind vorbei, die Aufregung legt sich, und man beginnt das schöne Leben zu genießen. Die Premierenfeier des Figaro auf dem Mönchsberg hat mich einige Energie gekostet, und so konnte ich mich erst nach ein paar Tagen wieder in den feierlichen Festspielzirkus stürzen.

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Inventing the Existing World

( 4 Aug 2011 ) Anna Viebrock, set and costume designer for The Makropulos Case, presented her new book Das Vorgefundene erfinden (Inventing the Existing World) today in Salzburg. Anna Viebrock’s works are considered unique documents of postmodern theatrical development during the past 20 years. 

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Georg Kreisler at republic on August 8

Due to illness, Margarete Mitscherlich has been forced to cancel her participation in the public conversation on August 8 as part of the series Auf eigene Faust.
Instead, the satirist, writer and musician Georg Kreisler will discuss the topic “The radicalness of age” with Patrycia Ziolkowska and Thomas Oberender.

Die allgegenwärtigen Sofiensäle

( 4 Aug 2011 ) Erich Schagerl, Primgeiger bei den Wiener Philharmonikern, berichtet während der Festspielzeit direkt aus dem Orchestergraben. In seinem zweiten Blog gibt er einen Einblick in die Arbeit an der Oper Die Sache Makropulos und erzählt über viele Begegnungen mit dem Ausnahmekomponisten Janáček in der Vergangenheit.

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What’s in a name?

( 3 Aug 2011 ) In his new blog, Alek Shrader, Ferrando of Così fan tutte, is thinking about the meaning of the names of the protagonists in Così. So he is searching for some enlightening hints in the Greek, Latin and German language. From the names and their possible origins, Alek Shrader tries to establish a connection to the characters in the opera played. An interesting examination!

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How Joel Prieto became Don Ottavio: Part II

( 2 Aug 2011 ) In the first part, Joel Prieto chatted about the beginning in Salzburg, the turning points during the rehearsals and the final surprise of singing the premiere of Don Giovanni. Now he is on the stage but the problem starts when he tries to get off again. This is the story of an accident and the beginning of a wonderful career in Salzburg. 

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To Smoke Musically In A Car

( 2 Aug 2011 ) Salzburg holds a very special place in my heart for a very special reason. It was here, in the summer academy at the Mozarteum in the late nineties, that I met my voice teacher. He would have, and still today has, a massive importance for my development as a singer.

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Montblanc Extends Sponsorship Agreement for the Young Directors Project

( 1 Aug 2011 ) “The Young Directors Project is a launch-pad for young artists and an idea-giver for the Festival as an institution at the same time,” Helga Rabl-Stadler says, thanking Montblanc for ten years of active support. Ingrid Roosen-Trinks was able to announce a continuation of the partnership.

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Liebe Freunde … Ich darf mich kurz vorstellen

( 1 Aug 2011 ) Erich Schagerl, 1. Violinist der Wiener Philharmoniker, verbringt bereits seine 32. Saison bei den Salzburger Festspielen und stellt sich in seinem ersten Blog vor.

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José Antonio Abreu Receives Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class

( 1 Aug 2011 ) Yesterday, Minister of Culture Claudia Schmied presented this high-ranking decoration to the composer, musician, economist and founder and director of the Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar, from which the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, among others, emerged.

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Death, Delayed

( 31 Jul 2011 ) What would happen if death simply failed to happen? That is exactly what happens in the opera The Makropulos Case. Emilia Marty has been living for more than 300 years – and only now, after such a long time, she feels that life is slowly slipping through her fingers. Leoš Janáček’s opera deals with questions of life and eternal agelessness – literally. Our trailer offers first glimpses of Christoph Marthaler’s production, featuring the protagonists and focusing on the story that the music and the production itself tell.

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How Joel Prieto became Don Ottavio: Part I

( 31 Jul 2011 ) Welcome to the first blog of the Salzburg Festival from Joel Prieto! He is singing the Don Ottavio Part in Don Giovanni this summer. For him it is a great honor to be able to share his experiences at the Festival during the rehearsals and performances with all the people out there. Here now is the first part of the story, how his dream came true to become Don Ottavio at the Salzburg Festival.

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First Master Class of the Young Singers Project – and a New E-Magazine

( 30 Jul 2011 ) Today at 3:00 pm, Festival visitors could see a different side of the international star baritone Matthias Goerne: working with young talents at the University’s Main Auditorium. He led the first master class of this year’s Young Singers Project. Its sponsor, Credit Suisse, has begun a new project this year to support young journalists as well. During the past week, they have put together an e-magazine featuring the YSP participants and their experiences at the Salzburg Festival: www.ysp-zine.com.

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Pierre Boulez Receives State Medal

( 30 Jul 2011 ) "Maestro Pierre Boulez is one of the outstanding representatives of contemporary music, and also a long-time faithful friend of the Salzburg Festival," Landeshauptfrau Mag. Gabi Burgstaller emphasized today, Saturday, July 30, at the ceremony awarding Pierre Boulez the State Medal of Salzburg at the SalzburgKulisse. This faithful friendship has manifested itself in the 30 appearances Boulez has made at the Salzburg Festival, Burgstaller continued.

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Mönchsberg Wine and Grazing Pork

( 30 Jul 2011 ) On Mönchsberg, in the garden of the Edmundsburg, our “Osmica” will be open on the Festival weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 4:00 to 11:00 pm. A culinary festival – but only if the weather is nice! If you want a preview taste, you should

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10 Years of the Siemens Festival>Nights

( 29 Jul 2011 ) One decade, 400,000 visitors, more than 20 premieres: the Siemens Festival>Nights, presented by Siemens Austria, the Salzburg Festival and ORF Salzburg, take place this year for the tenth time already – and have become a classic themselves during recent years. On a daylight-suitable large LED video wall on Kapitelplatz, Festival highlights from 30 years are screened.

Today, a press lunch took place to honor the anniversary of the Siemens Festival>Nights: Ing. Wolfgang Hesoun, General Manager of Siemens AG Austria, Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler, President of the Salzburg Festival, Prof. Siegbert Stronegger, Director of the State of Salzburg ORF, Angela Denoke, soprano and interpreter of Emilia Marty in The Makropulos Case, as well as Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg, President of the Vienna Philharmonic, summarized a successful decade and gave insights into future developments.

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Riccardo Muti Celebrates with the Vienna Philharmonic

( 28 Jul 2011 ) In honor of Riccardo Muti’s 70^th birthday, a ceremony was held today for the maestro, at which he received an honorary membership in the Vienna Philharmonic.

The conductor and the Salzburg Festival have had an intensive and very happy relationship for over forty years. This summer, he will conduct the opera Macbeth and also two concerts each with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

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Playing the Angel

( 27 Jul 2011 ) Nach unserer Generalprobe am Sonntagabend und vorangegangenen 21 Tagen hochkonzentrierter Arbeit, erfüllt von den zarten Klängen Mozarts, getragen von unfassbar schönen, klassischen Stimmen und immer tiefer gehender Erforschung der menschlichen Sehnsüchte und Abgründe, war es allerhöchste Zeit für ein kleines bisschen Rock’n’Roll.

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YCA Winner David Afkham Presents CD

( 27 Jul 2011 ) Apart from the opening of the Festival, David Afkham had another important appearance today. The young conductor presented the CD “Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award 2010”, which he recorded with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, to the press at the Café UNI:VERSUM.

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“To awaken the ear, the eyes, and human thought” – the Salzburg Festival is opened

( 27 Jul 2011 ) This morning, the 2011 Salzburg Festival was officially opened. Federal President Heinz Fischer, Landeshauptfrau Gabi Burgstaller and Claudia Schmied, Minister for Art and Culture, attended the festive ceremony. Apart from the keynote address by Joachim Gauck and further speeches, works by Leoš Janáček, Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler framed the Opening Ceremony.

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Die Frau ohne Schatten: Scenic Glimpses

( 26 Jul 2011 ) On the occasion of the dress rehearsal of Die Frau ohne Schatten today, we are delighted to present a glimpse of the new production of Richard Strauss’ masterwork. This opera – filled with great, dramatic and at the same time very intimate moments – will captivate you. Listen to Anne Schwanewilms, Evelyn Herlitzius, Michaela Schuster and Wolfgang Koch share their thoughts about it.

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Discovering the Secret

( 25 Jul 2011 ) Stephan Balkenhol’s Works in the Context of the 2011 Salzburg Festival

Just as Stephan Balkenhol’s works inspired us while creating the 2011 program, the 2011 Festival programming in turn inspired the artist to create new works – which can now be seen in their own Festival Exhibition.

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Successful Festival Opening Party

( 25 Jul 2011 ) Despite bad weather, the Festival’s fans were not discouraged from coming to the historic center of Salzburg: the Festival Opening Party attracted about 25,000 people – despite low temperatures and rain.

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Play it again, for sheer enjoyment

Unitel, the long-standing cooperation partner of the Salzburg Festival, has recorded numerous unforgettable opera productions and concerts over the past years. This summer, the website Unitel Classica offers a special delight for all Festival fans with its Festival Focus: highlights of recent years at the Salzburg Festival will be broadcast for you.

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Free Rides to the Festival!

( 23 Jul 2011 ) The Festival is about to begin, your tickets are waiting on your dresser and the eveningwear is in your closet, freshly ironed. The only open question is the best way of getting to the performance venue? If you would like to avoid traffic jams and the search for a parking place, you now have an alternative, for this Festival summer, your Festival tickets double as a free ticket for local transportation in Salzburg.

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„Klappe zu – Affe tot“ oder „Fenster zu – Vogel tot“?

( 23 Jul 2011 ) Claus Guth zeigt die Abgründe des Menschlichen, hält uns den Spiegel vor, was unsere Beziehungen betrifft und trifft uns ins Mark, wenn wir das zulassen … Wenn Susanna im Spannungsfeld von Figaro und Graf steht, dann ist das nicht Komödie, sondern wahrhaftige Zerrissenheit.

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Elisabeth Kulman forced to cancellation due to injury

During the first scenic rehearsal for Tristan und Isolde at the RuhrTriennale in Bochum, Elisabeth Kulman suffered an accident on July 19, 2011. Elisabeth Kulman is gravely injured by the accident and deeply regrets her cancellation for this year’s Salzburg Festival. Instead of Elisabeth Kulman, Anna Larsson will perform in the Opening Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic.

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Festival Fever and Rainy Weather

( 21 Jul 2011 ) This coming weekend, Salzburg awaits a sensational Festival Opening Party. One of the focus topics is Jedermann. As part of the Opening of the Siemens Festival>Nights on July 24, the participants for Jedermanns Tischgesellschaft (Everyman’s Round Table) have been announced.

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Lärmen lernen

( 20 Jul 2011 ) Haben sie sich einmal gefragt, was sich hinter all den Türen im Bühnenbild des Figaro abspielt? Hinter all den Türen arbeiten all die Menschen, die der Zuschauer nie zu sehen bekommt, all die Menschen, ohne die ein Theaterabend wie der Figaro völlig undenkbar wäre.

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A dirty affair

( 19 Jul 2011 ) Relationships can be difficult. They can get complicated. They can become messy. Likewise, the stage of Così fan tutte will go from stark, sterile white to mud-smeared, forest-infested chaos over the course of two acts. The question is, which is the true nature of love – clean and pure that inevitably gets stained, or dirty and flawed that can only be covered up by a pretty shell for a limited time? 

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“A wonderful work!!!!”

( 18 Jul 2011 ) On July 28 and 31, the Vienna Philharmonic will play the first Philharmonic Concert of this year’s Salzburg Festival under the baton of Pierre Boulez. The conductor, who has enjoyed a close working relationship for almost 40 years with the orchestra, has selected a moving program centering on Gustav Mahler, whose anniversary is this year and who is at the center of the concert programming of the 2011 Festival season, with his own series, the Mahler Scenes, dedicated to him.

In conversation with Wolfgang Schaufler, Pierre Boulez recounts his earliest experiences with Mahler and his very personal approach to the work of this composer, who was so seminal for 20^th century music.

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Hinter den Kulissen

( 17 Jul 2011 ) Den meisten Opernbesuchern stellen sich immer wieder Hunderte von Fragen, die uns Künstler betreffen! Angefangen von der wohl berühmtesten Frage: „Ah, Sie sind Opernsänger … was machen Sie denn so tagsüber?“

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Nono’s Prometeo Benefits Kollegienkirche

( 16 Jul 2011 ) For months, the performances of Luigi Nono’s Prometeo on July 30 and 31 have been completely sold out. On July 29, you have the opportunity to hear the much-anticipated production and to support the Kollegienkirche at the same time: the dress rehearsal will be opened as a benefit.

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Harte Arbeit

( 15 Jul 2011 ) Wenn ich für ein Theaterstück probe, dann lege ich meine Messlatte immer sehr hoch. Die Menschen immer wieder aufs Neue zu faszinieren und zu berühren ist harte Arbeit. Aber alles andere macht keinen Sinn.

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An unforgettable night in Salzburg

( 14 Jul 2011 ) Today, Alek is remembering a night in Salzburg when he was still a student at the Mozarteum Sommerakademie. The evening started like many others but soon it turned out, that the night was still long and the pockets almost empty. What to do? In the end a creative solution saved the night and Alek had learned three new things about life in general and Salzburg in particular. 

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