Festivals & Holidays In Salzburg
Held in Salzburg for more than a century, the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival presents a variety of operas, concerts, and theatrical productions set at several sites around the city. Hugo von Hoffmansthal, Max Reinhardt, and Richard Strauss got together in 1920 to establish it. The events take place in July and August and center Hugo v. Hoffmansthal’s highly praised drama “Jedermann,” (“Everyman”). Every year, this enthralling presentation opens before the Dom (Cathedral). Apart from the regular celebrations observed at other seasons, there have also been recent events at Easter and in the autumn featuring mostly Baroque music.
Among the several venues Salzburg provides for classical music events are the Great Hall of the University, the Yamaha Hall in the Orchestra House of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the solitaire housed in the Mozarteum University building, and the esteemed Mozarteum’s Vienna and Great Halls.Also housed there is The Large Studio, where plays are staged.From 1954, the Salzburg Palace Concerts have taken place in the Baroque Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace.Solo violinist Luz Leskowitz has been musically guiding over 250 chamber concerts held there annually since 1991.
Taking place outside of the festival season, the DIALOGues of the International Mozarteum Foundation have become increasingly important program element of the Salzburg cultural year since 2006.This celebration honors contemporary music.Renowned concert series, Salzburg Culture Days, and special opera evenings like the Oper am Berg Festival and ballet performances in the Landestheater comprise the range of events planned by the Salzburg Cultural Association.The modern music festival Aspects Salzburg happens every two years.
Salzburg offers a large spectrum of chamber music events.For those who enjoy music, Salzburg provides a range of consistent events. These comprise Salzburg Court Musicians’ performances as well as the Salzburg Fortress Concerts and Salzburg Palace Concerts in Mirabell Palace.Initiated by Tobi Reiser in 1950, the Salzburg Advent Singing has become well-known much beyond Salzburg.Along with a unique shepherd’s performance during the Christmas season, the Great Festival Hall is well-known for its annual choral and instrumental folk music events.
Salzburg Festival
Most people agree that the Salzburg Festival is the best classical music and performing arts event available worldwide.The Salzburg festival has been staged since 1920 every summer in July and August.The festival is well-known for its legendary Jedermann on Domplatz, superb performances of Mozart and Strauss compositions, and a varied slate of plays, operas, and concerts from all around the world.Over 250,000 people come to take part in more than 200 amazing events over the six weeks of the festival.
In 1913 Heinrich Damisch founded the Vienna Academic Mozart Community with Friedrich Gehmacher. Later on, Damisch also suggested planning frequent celebrations in Salzburg.Founded in 1917, the Festival Community Association isDirector Max Reinhardt, working with Hugo von Hofmannsthal, assumed the creative leadership for the festival.The first show of the festival took place on August 22, 1920.The program highlighted Reinhardt’s performance of Jedermann, a drama influenced by late mediaeval mystery plays by von Hofmannsthal. The drama was already on show in front of the cathedral on the plaza.
The celebration now features three festival halls where events may take place regardless of the temperature. These comprise the original festival hall (now the Haus für Mozart), opened in 1925; the Felsenreitschule, opened in 1926; and the principal festival hall opened in 1960.Furthermore well-known venues are the Great Hall of the Mozarteum, the Salzburg State Theater, and the Pernerinsel in Hallein.There are further performance venues for the Salzburg Festival scattered over the city.
Established by the International Mozarteum Foundation in 1956, the Mozart Week ends of January or starts of February.Mozart’s birthday is January 27th, thus it would be perfect starting point.Herbert von Karajan founded the Easter Festival in 1967 in line with the Summer Festival.Apart from that, he oversees the 1973 started Whitsun Festival.The emphasis moved mostly to 18th-century music after Karajan died.
Salzburg Jazz Autumn
From 1996 to 2012, the Salzburg Jazz Autumn was staged yearly.On stage were Austrian artists as well as international jazz stars.Since 2000, the Jazz & The City series of events has been hosted in halls, bars, and clubs among other venues. Usually, the events happen either at the end of October or the start of November.The event’s admission is free.Rising from the Jazz im Theater performance series starting in 1981, Jazzit is a jazz bar that opened in 2002.The alternative jazz club also highlights the scene of experimental electronic music.Open since 1983, the Life Salzburg jazz club specializes on vintage jazz.
Originating from the ARGE Rainberg in November 1981, the ARGE-Kultur Salzburg is the biggest autonomous cultural centre in the city.The name was selected with reference to a building atop the Rainberg.The HTL teaching building yard in Nonntal was donated to the company, then known as ARGE Nonntal, due to other purposes of the site.She is a modern, creative producer and organizer with social conscience.
The Schallmoos area houses The Rockhouse.Originally debuted in 1993, it now hosts almost 200 events every year.Once annually at a rehearsal room allocation conference, the six popular rehearsal rooms with Salzburg bands and musicians are assigned to interested parties for a one-year period.Children between the ages of six and ten have a Rock & Pop tasting workshop especially for them.
From 2004, Accordion On-Stage Salzburg has been working with the accordion orchestra Viel-Harmonie. Mostly connected to folk music, there are several genres available that contrast the accordion. In 2008 the JIMS – Summer Academy for Jazz and Improvised Music Salzburg closed.
Salzburg Easter Festival
Herbert von Karajan lead the Salzburg Easter Festival’s planning in 1967. Opera dominates the scene. There are several concerts part of the supporting program.
Herbert von Karajan started the Salzburg Easter Festival in 1967 alongside the well-known Salzburg Festival set for August. From the beginning, this celebration gained reputation as a sophisticated and strikingly beautiful one.
Herbert von Karajan started the Easter Festival mostly in order to extend the festival idea in Salzburg. He sought to create the Easter Festival as a unique event apart from the well-known Salzburg Festival carried out in the summer. His clear objective was to establish a unique character for the Easter Festival. Only outstanding directors, very talented performers, and complex opera staging will reach this.
Every year, the Festival runs Saturday before Palm Sunday until Easter Monday. Nikolaus Bachler will assume artistic director role in 2023. In line with his vision, he plans to yearly invite a well-known orchestra, together with its principal conductor, to present their skills in Salzburg. This project aims to give visitors a wide range of interpretive techniques so ensuring a varied and rich musical experience.
Salzburg Culture Days
Since their founding in 1972, Salzburg Culture Days have become rather important in the city’s cultural scene. The idea was to present the City of Mozart as a top choice for outstanding concerts and performances not only in the summer but also in the autumn.
Organized by the Salzburger Kulturvereinigung, the Kulturtage event lasts two weeks in October. From its founding in the autumn of 1972, the festival has always concentrated on offering top-notch events at great venues all year long rather than only during the festival season. The program brings together musicians from many backgrounds to explore both familiar and innovative sounds, so presenting a rich tapestry of musical styles.
Held yearly in October, the Kulturtage festival—organized by the Salzburger Kulturvereinigung—offers an amazing range of musical presentations emphasizing the depth and variety of talent. Celebrated in honor of its 50th anniversary, the festival now lasts four weeks. With a total of twenty events scheduled at eight different sites, this growth is exciting.
From grand orchestra concerts at the Großes Festspielhaus to riveting tango and brass music performances, the calendar features a varied array of events. Opera aficionados are getting very excited about the forthcoming Der Rosenkavalier opera performance by the Salzburg Landestheater and the Felsenreitschule.
Winterfest
Salzburg’s Winterfest is well-known for its exceptional modern circus presentations internationally. For German-speaking nations, this cultural event is now the biggest celebration for modern circus arts. Invited to perform are only the most exceptional circus ensembles.
Under the large canopies in the Volksgarten, some 30,000 visitors gather in the winter. Their captivated universe is full of fascinating stories, elegant lyricism, and hypnotic gymnastics. The “cake” of the festival is enhanced by an enchanted fringe program and a great selection of mouthwatering cuisine.
Winterfest seeks to offer a calm and reflective refuge among the usual bustle of Christmas planning. The delicious drinks available on-site enhance the fascinating and exciting evening experience the Winterfest event presents. Especially considering its rich history of public entertainment, the Volksgarten is an amazing place.
Sommerszene Salzburg
For 11 days, Sommerszene Salzburg events entirely turn Salzburg into a center of modern performance art. It presents Austrian premieres in theater, dance, performance, and installation as well as draws gifted artists from all around. This occasion really makes the City of Mozart alive.
Often depicted as the exact opposite of the Salzburg Festival is Sommerszene. This event has evolved over years into a well-known worldwide celebration unique in Austria. The festival mostly centers on modern dance; the Sommerszene program adds theater, music, movies, and visual arts.
Every year the program distinguishes itself by stretching limits, welcoming artistic experimentation, investigating fresh avenues for exhibition, and providing the best quality. Complementary events meant to inspire interaction between artists and the larger community add to the performance program.
From the late 1960s, Szene Salzburg has championed modern musical performance and theater. Originally a stage for local artists, it developed into a worldwide avant-garde festival in the 1970s and 1980s. Renowned worldwide producer Szene welcomes artists from Austria and beyond into residencies To help emerging artists, the European network apap—advancing performing arts project—was established.
Salzburg Whitsun Festival
Since 1973, the Salzburg Whitsun Festival has become rather important on the Salzburg event schedule. A great addition to the Summer Festival, the celebration falls at the beginning of summer.
Herbert von Karajan started the first Whitsun Concerts in 1973 in order to satisfy guests of the Easter Festival’s expectations. Before 1982, three orchestral performances on Whit Saturday, Whit Sunday, and Whit Monday were scheduled by the Berlin Philharmonic, under Herbert von Karajan.
The program grew to include guest performances by prestigious foreign orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra following Karajan’s death. Taking over the Whitsun Concerts in 1998, the Salzburg Festival renamed them the Salzburg Whitsun Festival.
Riccardo Muti was assigned artistic direction of the Whitsun Festival in 2007. He kept this post until 2012, when the Italian vocalist Cecilia Bartoli replaced him. Since 2012, the major event of the Whitsun Festival has been a highlight of the Summer Festival schedule.
Gaisberg Race
On the famous mountain of Salzburg, Gaisberg Race takes place. Former Automobile Club of Salzburg president Baron von Preuschen arranged the first race on September 6, 1929. First aired on radio in 1930, the last event before the Second World War started in 1933. The first timed race following the war took place in October 19, 1952. Captivating a 25,000-strong audience, this event helped to open the path for the beginning of international motor sports events on the Gaisberg in 1957.
With extra motorcycle events including European Hill Climb events, the Gaisberg Race mostly consisted in car events. The great number of fatal events that happened caused several cancellements of the event. With a rather smaller audience of just 10,000 people, the last Gaisberg Race happened on September 7, 1969.
Though they have a more relaxed atmosphere, the Gaisberg Races, which take place in Salzburg since 2003, are equally remarkable. Along with events in the old city center (“Salzburg City Grand Prix”), the races are set as regularity runs for antique vehicles at the Salzburgring. Traveling cars, racecars, and sports cars from many eras come together in June to compete in an exciting race.
Drivers at the Salzburgring race are free to set their own speed with reference to a lap. Drivers have to keep an average speed of about 50 kph and follow the specified time limit on the Gaisberg. The timed runs taken together decide the winners. Drivers have to reach the target time down to the hundredth second; the driver who comes closest to it wins.
Aspekte Festival
Every month the Aspekte Salzburg Festival lets music enthusiasts fulfill their love for modern music. While appreciating emerging musicians in the music business, the focus is on compositions by eminent Austrian and foreign musicians.
Initiated in 1977, the Aspekte Salzburg Festival happens every two years. The initiative aims to draw attention to twentieth-century Austrian and worldwide composers’ works The event presents a great opportunity for music lovers to discover the skills of upcoming musicians from Austria and abroad as well as to enjoy modern music.
The festival series AspekteSPIELRume has been emphasizing since 2008 on entertaining young people and children. Unlike the first version, this annual celebration for young people takes place every year. This project intends to motivate and assist upcoming musicians. Additionally established by the Aspekte competition is the “prima la musica” special prize, which chooses three winners yearly.
St. Rupert's Day Fair
People gather every year on September 24th, close to Salzburg Cathedral, to honor St. Rupert. The church fair offers a varied spectrum of attractions, including a dedicated area for drinking, local businesses presenting regional cuisine, and classic rides.
Celebrated as a traditional part of a cathedral festival is St. Rupert’s Day. Five days straight, the squares around Salzburg Cathedral come alive and become a vivid stage. Showcasing customs, folk music, brass band performances, traditional cuisine, and even nostalgic attractions like a ghost train or merry-go-round, this stage is a dynamic center of cultural events. These energetic events are planned to respect the great St. Rupert. It is advised to dress traditionally, either lederhosen or dirndl, for a whole St. Rupert’s Day experience.
The Roman colony of Juvavum (now Salzburg) passed on to bishop Rupert. He acted first in 696 to build St. Peter’s archabbey. This prepared the foundation for the Salzburg that exists now. His feast day is September 24th; he is generally accepted as Salzburg’s patron saint.
