Soon it is time again! Easter is just around the corner and with it the popular Salzburg Easter Festival which attracts numerous visitors also from across the border every year again. From Saturday before Palm Sunday up to and including Easter Monday (24th of March – 2nd of April 2018), impressing musical performances will enchant the young and the old on altogether ten days. We will reveal everything you have to know about the Easter Festival in the following:

Setting of the Salzburg Easter Festival

The Salzburg Easter Festival has been founded by Herbert von Karajan in the year 1967 and since then, the highest artistic quality and exclusivity have been the order of the day undoubtedly. The event is financed mostly by private means through the selling of the tickets but also thanks to the donations of sponsors and the friends’ association which already comprises more than 1.900 members by now who provide for a familiar atmosphere at the Easter Festival. Since 2013, Christian Thielemann is the artistic director wherefore he is perfectly suited as chief conductor of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden which also forms the orchestra in residence of the Festival. And still today, the high requirements of the founder are also reflected in the international star-studded cast of the highly versatile programme, consisting of introductory lectures, operas, orchestra performances, chamber, choir, and children’s concerts. The main location will be the “Grosses Festspielhaus” which houses one of the largest stages in the world. But also the impressive Great Hall of the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation as well as some other places will provide the glamourous frame for this year’s performances.

Programme of the Salzburg Easter Festival

The centre of the programme will be the restaging of Puccini’s exciting and captivating masterpiece “Tosca”, this year. Christian Thielemann is the musical head of the new opera production, Michael Struminger is the director and Anja Harteros will represent the lead character Tosca on stage. But also for children and adolescents, much will be offered. The Kapelle for kids explains and illustrates music for the little ones from 6 years. In addition to that, the Easter Festival has founded the project OPER QUICKLEBENDIG together with akzente Salzburg which literally opens the door to the opera for teenagers. The aim is to overcome their fears of contacts with the “elite cultural establishment” and convey the emotionality of music to them. In the course of creative workshops which are based on the interests of the youths like for example hiphop, dance, rap, drama and many more, as well as on exclusive behind the scenes tours, they will be playfully acquainted with the variety of theatre.

All visitors of this year’s Salzburg Easter Festival will find a warm welcome at the Green Hotel zur Post, of course. We look forward to meeting you!