Interviews
For the first time, the Salzburg Festival presents Bohuslav Martinů’s four-act opera The Greek Passion this summer. The libretto by the composer is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel Christ Recrucified. The action is timeless and topical, and parallels with current events cannot be overlooked: the inhabitants of a Greek
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At Whitsun 2023, we embark upon a journey to the underworld – experiencing once again the birth of opera from the grief of Orpheus over the loss of his beloved Eurydice. Cecilia Bartoli and her guests explore the myth of the enchanting lament of Orpheus, whose moving song and playing are
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“The most precious thing a festival can achieve is to enable people to come together and essential artistic encounters to happen – that has been the Salzburg Festival’s goal since its very beginning. More than one hundred years ago, when artists thought up this Festival, Europe lay in ruins. And
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No, comedy is not superficial, says director Rolando Villazón, who is staging Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival. Rather, comedy illustrates our problems’ extremes. “A clown is a figure who always loses, he has no fourth wall, he plays directly with the audience,” says the
Interviews
In his new production of Leoš Janáček’s Káťa Kabanová, Barrie Kosky will emphasize the contrast and tension between the protagonist and her claustrophobic surroundings in a radical, severe form. He considers the Felsenreitschule the ideal venue for his production. Janáček’s opera was last shown at the Salzburg Festival
Interviews
Salzburg Festival: Ms. Bartoli, so many composers and authors set their works in Seville, despite never having been there. You have dedicated the 2022 Whitsun Festival to this city in which 153 operas are set. What makes Seville special to you? Cecilia Bartoli: First and foremost, Seville is a city
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In 2022 the Artistic Director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, Cecilia Bartoli, focuses on Seville, which inspired an incomparable number of composers. There are said to be 153 operas set in and around Seville. It is a city which unites a unique mixture of proud ancient cultures which has generated
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The Supervisory Board of the Salzburg Festival has voted unanimously to appoint Kristina Hammer the new president of the Salzburg Festival. During the hearing of candidates applying for the position of president, the German/Swiss candidate with long-standing Salzburg connections convinced the Board. Therefore, Kristina Hammer will become the new
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“Christa Ludwig was a legend, even during her lifetime. In opera, oratorio and lied alike, Christa Ludwig set inimitable standards with her vocalism and personality. The Salzburg Festival is infinitely indebted to her,” Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser expressed his grief at the wonderful singer’s death. Christa Ludwig gave the
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Rehearsals have begun this week for one of the major new productions of this summer, Luigi Nono’s “azione scenica” Intolleranza 1960. This key work of the 20th century was originally to be presented this past summer. It is now a central production of the second part of the centenary
Interviews
During the 2021 Festival summer, two completely opposed ways of perceiving the world are a central preoccupation of our opera and theatre productions: radical individualism versus the humanistic idea of a society based on solidarity, as invoked by Luigi Nono in his work Intolleranza 1960. “While Don Giovanni, Richard III
Interviews
The turn of the year is always an occasion to look back and gaze into the future. The Festival’s President talks to Daniel Barenboim, who has been a Salzburg Festival artist since 1965, who contributed decisively to the success of the centennial edition in the special summer of 2020
