Mosaic Mosaic Arranging Salzburg Easter Festival / Day

The Salzburg Easter Festival has a respectable history and reputation: in 1967 it was founded by Maestro Herbert von Karajan. It traditionally lasts ten days from Saturday before Palm Sunday to the Second Easter and offers both opera, symphonic, choir music and chamber music. Since 2023, the festival’s intensive and artistic director is Nicholas Bahler, one of the most respected personalities in European cultural life. Previously, he has led the Bavarian state opera in Munich. Nicholas Bahler has expanded the Easter Festival’s boundaries, including contemporary dance and electronic music in the program. It should be recalled that the Easter Festival of Salzburg (Osterfestpiel Salzburg) no related ties with the Great Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) which has been in Mozart’s hometown every summer since 1920.

Faith in a better future

From 1967 to 2012, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was at the center of the Easter Festival. It was the idea of ​​Herbert von Karayan that Salzburg is the only place in the world every spring in which Berlin Philharmonic Dead from the stage orchestra pit and participates in the opera. After Karayan, the famous orchestra was conducted by George Sholt, Claudio Abado and Simon Retl at Easter in Salzburg. 2013 Berlin Philharmonic He moved to the Easter Festival in Baden Baden, where they have been heard all these years during the festival period. The Easter Festival of 2025 in Baden Baden is the last to attend this orchestra – from 2026, the collective, led by its current musical leader Cyril Petrenko, will again be the permanent resident orchestra of the Easter Festival of Salzburg.

From 2013 to 2022, the artistic director of the Easter Festival of Salzburg was Maestro Christian Telmanis, who began his career as the musical assistant of Herbert von Karayan. In these years, the Chapel of Dresden’s country led by Christian Telemen was played here by opera and symphonic repertoire.

When Nikolaus Bahler became intendant in the festival in 2023, he implemented a new concept, inviting another symphony orchestra to Salzburg every year. 2023 in the year it was Leipzigas Gewandhaus The orchestra under the direction of conductor Andris Nelson (Rihards Wagner of the Program), in 2024, the Orchestra of the National Academy of Rome, under the leadership of conductor Antonio Papano, under the leadership of the National Academy of Rome (the theme of the Mediterranean South and Italy).

« The program is all about wounds that are cut to our society and the world, » says Nikolaus Bahlers, the Salzburg Easter Festival. Photo – Eric Maiere

In 2025, the Easter Festival program of Salzburg is particularly diverse – three orchestras and four conductors. The motto of the festival this time is Wounds and miracles/Wunden und wunder. « Given the current situation in the world, we do not want to work as usual. The program is all about wounds that are felled to our society and the world – be it in Ukraine, Israel, populist -led countries in Europe or elsewhere in the world. But we do not want to ignore miracles and miracles.

Signal

« We live in the age of injury. We are just able to stop to think about how and why we create wounds for ourselves. It seems that time cannot heal them. Is there really no way out of this situation? Is our only option stagnation, standing on the ground and fortification against everything that happens?

« When Joseph Boiss stated in his artwork, » Show your wounds! « It was a signal of sensitivity and recognition. But we have turned it into a race to find out who and what can be hurt deepest. We are not looking for healing but pouring salt into our wounds, Should we not cultivate a salmon from wounds to a miracle, and we have to admit to the wound, which such a miracle can be healed. Redemption, « says Nicholas Bahler.

Opera Hovanshchin Produced by director Simon McBernie and conductor Esa Peka Salonen. Photo – Marita Kiteharju

This year’s festival program is at the center of Modest Musorgska Opera Hovanshchin – At the end of the 19th century, a folk drama was composed, revealing a topical image of Russian politics, church and society characterized by violence, power struggle and conflicts of various social layers. British director Simon Macburni Hovanshchin The new production will be attended by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of Maestro Ess Pecca Thessalen. This monumental opera tells about chaos, unrest and damage in the late 17th century in Russia, but its story is voting on with the present day. This is evidenced by the popularity of this opera. Hovanshchin German director Klaus was interpreted last year in the language of contemporary theater in the Berlin State Opera, and a few weeks ago the premiere of this work at the Great Theater of Geneva, where it was staged by Catalan master Kaliksto Bjeito.

View of Modest Musorgsky Opera Hovanshchin New production at Salzburg Easter Festival. Photo – Inese Bahere

Director Simon McBernie says: his show in Salzburg will not be a reconstruction of history – it will tell about today. He calls Hovanshchin About « alarmingly beautiful and sometimes scary opera ». Maestro esa peka salonen adds: « By replacing a few words and surnames Hovanshchin In the libretto, you can think that it describes current events. I do not mind any other opera where it would be possible. « 

The new production has been produced by the New York Metropolitan Opera. Hovanshchin On April 12 and 21, Salzburg will feature an international soloist ensemble.

Late evening tango

The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by ESA Pecca Thessalonen, will give two concerts at the Easter Festival – 13th and 20th of April, Gustav Mahler’s second or second or second, or Resurrection SymphonyOn April 14, listeners will be offered Jean Sibelius Second Symphony and the Cell Concert of Ess Pecca Thessalonen (soloist Senja Rummukainen). The festival’s intensive Nicholas Bahler emphasizes that the sound of this Finnish orchestra is characterized by precision and transparency.

The festival will also be visited by the Maler Chamber Orchestra: on April 18, Maxim Yemelyanichev will conduct Felix Mendelszon-Bartoldi oratorio Elijah (Baritone Christian Gerhaer in the title role), on April 19, Zhanandrea will conduct Edward Grieg Suite GintsPeter Tchaikovsky’s violin concert (soloist Augustine Hadelich) and Dmitry Shostakovich’s ninth symphony.

15 April at Salzburg Mozarteum Conductor Tabita Berglunna will come to the orchestra. The concert will be sung by soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, tenor Sokjong Beck and baritone Simon Kinlidaid. Will sound fragments from Peter Tchaikovsky Evgeny Onegina and Peak ladiesAntonin’s Dvorak MermaidUmberto George Fedoras and Andrew Shenieras well as from Joseph Verdi Macket.

The festival program also includes surprises – April 14, Musicians of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, soprano Helena Juntunen, accordionist Niko Kumpuvaar and guitarist and pianist Marz Niman will perform with the program Late evening tangoin which the Finns will love tango as passionate as the Argentines. The evening of experimental music will take place on April 17, where electronic sounds will blend with Musorgski and will feature musician Alma. House pioneer Milk & SugarPersian music collective Pourwandad And Persian singer Sogol Livani. In their program, artists will reflect on the theme of the festival Wounds and miracles.

Bodies

The contemporary dance festival is represented by the preljokage of famous French choreographer Angelen and his troupes Ballet preljocaj the show created last year Requiemthat will be on view in Salzburg on April 17th. « In 2023, I lost my father, my mother and some close friends. It awakened to me the desire to make choreography about the feelings of a loved one. Sociologist Emil Dirkem Elementary forms of religious life The importance of commemorative rituals in the development of civilizations. Requiem is the part of these branches, the structuring of our society and the community, « says Angelen Preljokaz.

View from Choreographer Angelen’s Preljokage Shows Requiem. Photo – Jan Fans

« I want to explore the emotions that take over us in a sadness. These are not just sorrow and disappointment, it is also the traces of memories and loved ones living in us. At the funeral, we remember what we have gone, share our thoughts and sometimes laugh. Wonder, « says the author of the show.

Choreographer Angelen Preljokage in his show Requiem Explores the emotions that take over us in a sadness. Photo – Jillian Bengel

The choreographer explains why the word « Requiem » has used the word « Requiem » in the plural: « I did not want to produce one specific – Mozart, Fore or Ligeti – but to offer a heterogeneous musical texture and complement it with various sounds. The show features Bach, Mozart, Messiana, Ligeti, George Friedrich Hasa, Hildur Gudnadotiras and Johann Johann Johansson, as well as progressive metal groups System of a Down Music and medieval chants.

Information: Osterfestpiel.at