Page 227 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

SALZBURG  225

The Salzburg Festival

The Salzburger Festspiele, the largest and most important opera and theatre festival
in Europe, was initiated by three people. The eminent writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal,
the composer and conductor Richard Strauss, and the greatest theatrical innovator of
the 20th century, the director Max Reinhardt, decided to honour the memory of Mozart
by organizing a festival devoted to his work. It was to be held in his home town and be
a celebration of theatre and opera. The first festival was held in Salzburg in 1920. Today, it
is a more all-embracing event, and the festival programme has become increasingly rich
and varied. The former court stables were converted to create two festival theatres and
performances are also held in the Makartplatz theatre, in Schloss Mirabell and in many
open-air venues around town. Theatre troupes come from all over the world, often with
original performances prepared specifically for the festival. Tickets tend to be sold out
several months in advance (see pp334–5).

Herbert von Karajan
(1908–89), born in Salzburg
and one of the most
outstanding 20th-century
conductors of symphonies
and operas, was the
musical director of the
Salzburg Festival for almost
30 years.

The Grosses
Festspielhaus is
adorned with a
Baroque portal by
Johann Bernhard
Fischer von Erlach.
A stage in front of the cathedral in The modern building
Salzburg is where the Salzburger Festspiele of the Grand Festival
performances begin each July. Max Reinhardt Theatre was
pioneered the idea of open-air performances completed in 1960 by
at the festival, and theatre troops now play to Clemens Holzmeister
large audiences. (see pp222–3).

The Fire Dance is one of the most beautiful Since its very first staging the festival has
performances staged regularly during the Salzburg opened with a performance of Hugo von
Festival. As soon as night falls, the whole town comes Hofmannsthal’s morality play Jedermann
alive with the lights of the spectacle. (“Everyman”).

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