Masks in front of the Festspiel houses - Salzburg Festival | © Luigi Caputo
Salzburg Festival
Mozart here, The Sound of Music there: but on the international cultural scene, Salzburg is above all the Festival Town. Every summer, the Salzburg Festival transforms Salzburg into one giant stage.
Festival City Salzburg
"The entire city is a stage" – this is how the founders of the Salzburg Festival – Max Reinhardt, Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Richard Strauss – formulated their intentions 100 years ago. Their wishes came true and remains so to this day: the Salzburg Festival has become one of the most important festivals for the performing arts worldwide. For several weeks in summer, this town of 150,000 inhabitants becomes the hub of the cultural world. Salzburg owes this annual transformation to the Salzburg Festival: a festival acclaimed worldwide for its exceptional musical quality. Every year, top international stars such as Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón and Riccardo Muti attract more than 250,000 culture enthusiasts from around the globe to enjoy opera, theatre and concerts that are second to none.
Jedermann: a classic performance and an integral part of the Salzburg Festival. It is the dream of many a theatre lover – at least once in their life – to see this play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal on the Cathedral Square. Yet they are not the only ones enthralled by this timeless piece. From speculations about what dress Paramour will wear this season, to photos of the traditional Bieranstich [tapping of the beer barrel] at the annual launch party of the premiere: Jedermann has all of this Festival City holding their breath in anticipation. No wonder, then, that every the over 2500 seats for this audience favourite are regularly sold out.
Performance Venues during the Salzburg Festival
Aside from the open-air stage for “Jedermann” on Cathedral Square, the other event venues are spread out across the entire city. And, since the addition of the Pernerinsel in Hallein in 1992, even beyond. That said, the most famous remain the Felsenreitschule and the Grosses Festspielhaus on Hofstallgasse – where glittering stars of high society also make their own red-carpet appearance.
The entire city as one big stage
If you want to enjoy the Salzburg Festival you don’t necessarily need a ticket. Barely anyone can resist the hustle and bustle surrounding the Festival, while several highlights are offered to the public for free. Festival productions, old and new, are broadcast – in some cases “live” – on Kapitelplatz Square during “Siemens Fest>Spiel>Nächte”. And on opening weekend, the Festival promises a colorful program celebrating both high- and popular culture.
The History and Great Names of the Salzburg Festival
The whole city as a stage – something director Max Reinhardt was already dreaming of back in his day. Together with writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal and other cultural icons, he founded the Salzburg Festival in 1920. A series of Festival directors – including Herbert von Karajan – continued the storied history of this now classic festival.
