The Salt in the Cultural Scene

INCREDIBLY DRAMATIC – the Pocket Opera Festival

Don’t let the name mislead you: The Salzburg Pocket Opera Festival is one of the most significant players in contemporary music Europe-wide. On a biennial basis, the festival produces and presents 4 to 5 operatic premiers featuring international composers who approach a common theme from different perspectives. These so-called “Pocket Operas”, each lasting 20 to 30 minutes, meld into a single exciting evening that gives the public a unique opportunity to experience different compositional styles in immediate juxtaposition. With an umbrella title “Salzburg lies on the sea”, the Pocket Operas promoted by Szene Salzburg in September 2019 all revolve around the lighter and darker sides of love as depicted by Shakespeare in his plays.

COUNTER-MOVEMENT - Szene Salzburg

For the longest time now, it has been impossible to conceive of a Salzburg contemporary calendar without “Sommerszene”. Every year in June, this festival brings international greats and extraordinary newcomers of the performing arts into the city. Wim Vandekeybus – pictured, his production “Inasmuch as Life is borrowed” – the group “Forced Entertainment”, as well as Salzburg choreographer Hubert Lepka were, and will continue to be experienced here. The power behind the event is SZENE Salzburg, born exactly 50 years ago as a counterpoint to the virtually omnipotent “high culture” of that time, a platform for new forms of artistic expression. An excellent reason, in other words, for the big “Celebration of Art” scheduled for 10 October. That said, the organizers are far from resting on their laurels: Running since January is a new events series entitled “Young Vibes” and featuring young companies for young audiences – an introduction to contemporary dance in its countless forms and facets.

THE OFF IS ON - OFF Theater

After eight years of a nomadic existence, the dramatic ensemble TheaterOFFensive has had its very own home since 2017 – the OFF Theater in Gnigl. An old industrial building has been transformed into a theater with a small stage – the hall accommodates as many as 88 guests – along with a large lounge and bar. The lounge regularly hosts an OFF Brunch with live music as well as festivals, panel discussions and various special events. Challenging theater outside the mainstream can be seen on the stage – contemporary, experimental and entertaining. Theater director Alex Linse and his ensemble put a special emphasis on premieres and first performances, while developing productions of their own. A series entitled “Theater Sport” has long since achieved cult status, involving improvisation inspired by catchphrases suggested by the public. In other words, theater unlike anything you will experience elsewhere in Salzburg.

CLUBSOUND BY MINERVA - Minerva Records

At first sight, it has the appearance of a very cool vintage living room-café, but when you take a closer look, Minerva Records in the Andräviertel area of Salzburg reveals itself as a vast resource for fans of electronic music. Jürgen Vonbank and Irene Kafedarova have specialized in vinyl – new and used – filling a gap in Salzburg’s retail records segment. Here, people with a weakness for club sounds benefit from expert advice and can even leave special requests. In addition to coffee and cool beverages in the shop lounge, the Minerva concept also includes in-store sessions every Friday starting at 7 PM with live performances courtesy of local DJs and crews, their close ties to the Salzburg initiative for electronic music known as “Freakadelle” clear for everyone to hear.

COSMOPOLITAN IN MOTION - SEAD

SEAD – this acronym stands for the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance and simultaneously one of the most internationally acclaimed training centers for contemporary dance in all of Europe. Established in 1993 by American dancer and choreographer Susan Quinn, today some 100 students from more than 30 different countries complete their education in modern dance at this academy. Since 2008, this institution has also included the international touring company Bodhi Project, giving young dancers an opportunity to accumulate invaluable stage experience, as well as the successful SEAD festivals “New Faces New Dances” and “Xchange Festival” in Salzburg. Friday shows throughout the semester provide ongoing glimpses into their very latest choreographic and dance projects.

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