The Salzburg Festival, set to take place next summer, is shifting its focus to European literature and artists hailing from Eastern Europe. According to the released program, two of the three new opera productions will be adaptations of Dostoyevsky novels. Peter Sellars will direct Prokofiev's "The Gambler" with Asmik Grigorian, while Krzysztof Warlikowski tackles the modern opera "The Idiot" by Mieczyslaw Weinberg.
As for the revolt theme, Marcous Hinterhäuser, the artistic director, reveals that many of the selected works deal with the rejection of a world that demands more than what individuals can offer. These operas feature characters who perform a form of rebellion against such a world.
Salzburg's new head of drama, Marina Davydova, has been employed to provide an international orientation to the festival's theater section. Her debut program, however, mainly embraces European literature and theater productions, such as Thomas Mann's novel "Magic Mountain."
Director Nicolas Stemman's project "The Oresteia" is set to focus on themes of violence and politics based on ancient dramas. Hofmannsthal's "Jedermann" will begin the festival, marked by the first-time appearances of Philipp Hochmair and Deleila Piasko in the leading roles after last summer's production sparked mixed reactions.
Notably, women authors and composers are absent in the festival's opera and theater program, with the direction being almost completely in male hands, barring an exception by Mariame Clément with her production of Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann."
The Salzburg Festival continues to rely on star conductor Teodor Currentzis, with the Greek-Russian maestro slated to conduct a revival of Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Conductors Christian Thielemann and Daniel Barenboim are also expected to join, accompanied by his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Israeli and Palestinian musicians.
From July 19th to August 31st, a total of 172 performances will be held in Salzburg, with a concentrated concert program featuring Arnold Schönberg's music, which is still considered problematic by some.
Enrichment Data (Integrated):
The 2024 Salzburg Festival boasts an extensive range of productions. Among the operas are a new staging of Weinberg's "The Idiot" by Mieczyslaw, a concert treatment of Thomas’ "Hamlet," and a revival of Spontini's "La vestale."
The drama section includes "Die Orestie" and "Jedermann," while the concert program features a Rachmaninoff Concert, a historically informed performance of Wagner's "Walküre" from Dresden, and an assault on Bruckner's Ninth. Additionally, other productions include a staging of Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann" and Stefan Zweig's "Sternstunden der Menschheit."
