The first plays and concerts have already been performed. The Salzburg Festival officially begins this year with the ceremonial ceremony in the Felsenreitschule.
After the Jedermann premiere and the first performances as part of the Overture Spiritual, this year’s edition of the Salzburg Festival has now officially opened with the opening act.
In the morning, Governor Wilfried Haslauer and Federal President Alexander van der Bellen welcomed the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel together with an honorary company of the Federal Army. Traditionally, after the military ceremony on the Residenzplatz, everyone goes together to the festival district.
Critic of Putin’s regime
After the speech by festival chair Kristina Hammer and speeches by the governor and vice-chancellor Werner Kogler, this year’s keynote speaker Nina Khrushchev took over. She is considered an expert on contemporary Russian history and politics and is a sharp critic of Vladimir Putin’s regime. As the great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev, she observes developments in Russian society and comments on the circumstances.
Alexander van der Bellen traditionally gave the Federal President’s speech at the Felsenreitschule. At the end of his humorous and highly critical words, he declared the high cultural spectacle of Salzburg formally and officially opened.
Numerous guests of honour, including Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler and other members of the Federal Government, political and business celebrities from home and abroad, were in the audience.
Tonight: Capriccio and torch dance
Tonight the first opera, Strauss’ Capriccio, will be performed. The Wiener Philharmoniker under the direction of Christian Thielemann will bring the work to the stage in a concert.
Later in the evening, the traditional torch dance is performed on the Residenzplatz. Around 100 couples draw pictures in the Salzburg night sky with their torches, figures and formations.
Source: Krone
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