Page 227 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - 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 the most all-embracing event of its type in Europe. The festival programme
has become increasingly rich, and the former court stables were converted to create
two festival theatres. Performances are 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 Festivals for
almost 30 years.

The Grosses
Festspielhaus is
adorned with a
Baroque portal by
Johann Bernhard
Fischer von Erlach.
The 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”).

224-225_EW_Austria.indd 225 03/09/15 5:43 pm