At the Salzkammergut Festival Weeks, the stars are once once more giving each other their hands. Under the motto “Central Questions – Big Emotions,” Christian Hieke as artistic director, Karin Bergmann (literature and theater) and commercial director Johanna Mitterbauer have put together a colorful and well-thought-out program for the summer festival from June 28th to August 18th.
In the music sector, the Salzkammergut Open Air in Toscana Park Gmunden with the Bruckner Orchestra as well as Erwin Schrott and Erica Eloff (July 6th/7th) stands out once more. On July 4th, star conductor Franz Welser-Möst invites you to a crossover of folk music, classical music and other musical genres under the motto “Make music, listen & share” with Rafael Fingerlos and the Hollerstauden. On July 21st, the Arnold Schoenberg Choir can be heard performing Bruckner’s Mass No. 1 and Schönberg’s “Peace on Earth” at the Toscana Congress, followed by René Pape with a song recital on July 27th.
Image: Volker Weihbold
This year the festival weeks will be expanded to include a strong pop/crossover/indie focus. In August, the new Salzburg “Everyman” Philipp Hochmair with his Schiller Ballad Rave (August 2nd), the indie rock duo Cari Cari (August 3rd) and Herbert Pixner (August 4th) will perform at a second open air event . Vodoo Jürgens is coming to the Gmunden City Theater on August 16th.
In the theater sector, ex-Burgtheater director Bergmann has created two premieres: In cooperation with the Linz State Theater, Schnitzler’s “Liebelei” premiered on July 11th at the Stadttheater Gmunden, directed by the young Anna Stiepani, with Samuel Finzi and Petra Morzé. Sven Eric Bechtolf is also organizing an evening on the Kafka year by crossing his texts “A Report for an Academy” and “A Little Woman” (August 9/12, Stadttheater). There are also a number of staged readings, such as Bernhard’s “Theatermacher” with Michael Maertens and Marie-Luise Stockinger (July 26, Toscana Congress).
Image: Raffaela Pröll
90 events
After three pictures by Gottfried Helnwein in XXL format caused a lot of excitement in the center of Gmunden in January, an exhibition of his pictures will now follow from June 13th to July 28th in the Kammerhof Museum. Despite the turmoil, Johanna Mitterbauer is satisfied: “We managed to initiate a dialogue.” The festival is also going according to plan: After the record season in 2023 with 30,500 visitors, the number of events will be increased from 70 to 90 this year. The budget rose from 1.3 to 1.5 million euros, and they also want to increase utilization to 85 percent.
Image: APA/Hans Klaus Techt
For Karin Bergmann, the festival weeks are justified, especially given difficult times: “They are an exceptional time. Escapism must be allowed,” she says. “Art can give strength and comfort and be a booster for the soul.”
3 questions to … Petra Morzé
The actress will be at the Salzkammergut Festival three times this year.
Image: OÖN/hes
1. You take part in the staged reading of Thomas Bernhard’s “The Theater Maker”. What attracted you to it?
It is an actors’ festival and therefore a theater festival and therefore an audience festival. I play the theater maker’s wife and if she coughs once she annoys her husband. Splendid! I’m excited to play this with Michael Maertens. He is predestined for it.
2. Do you already know the Salzkammergut?
Yes, I’ve been here a few times and, among other things, filmed “Schlosshotel Orth” here. But to be honest, I know Semmering and Reichenau better. But I decided to get to know this region better.
3. Did you accept immediately when the offer came?
Yes, when Karin Bergmann calls, you come.
Author
Herbert Schorn
Editor culture and life
Herbert Schorn
