Salzburg Festival Acting Director Disputes Dismissal, Calling It Unlawful
Marina Davydova, the recently dismissed acting director of the renowned Salzburg Festival, intends to challenge her unexpected termination. “I am convinced that my dismissal by the Salzburg Festival is unlawful,” Davydova asserted. “Of course, I did not engage in any wrongdoing. I have already instructed my Austrian lawyers to pursue all necessary legal avenues to uphold my rights.”
Davydova’s contract with the festival was set to expire in 2026. While she admitted to feeling deep emotional turmoil following the dismissal, on the advice of her counsel, she chose to refrain from releasing a previously penned heartfelt statement.
Legal Dispute Erupts Over Alleged Breach of Contract
“Ms. Davydova has not provided any justification for her dismissal,” stated her lawyer, Gerald Ganzger, in a correspondence. He firmly refuted the festival’s allegation that Davydova held a competing, unauthorized part-time job.
Ganzger clarified that Davydova’s “secondary employment” consisted of serving as one of two members on the artistic committee of “The Voices Performing Arts Festival” in Berlin, a role she undertook entirely free of charge.
“This completely unpaid, purely humanitarian and philanthropic endeavor aimed at assisting refugee Russian artists was unjustly manipulated by the Salzburg Festival as a pretext to dismiss Ms. Davydova,” Ganzger declared. He emphasized that Davydova would not accept this alleged unfair treatment and would vigorously pursue all available legal options.
Salzburg Festival Cites Contract Violation, Denies Unjust Dismissal
The Salzburg Festival, however, maintains that Davydova’s involvement in Berlin constituted a violation of her contract. The festival described Davydova’s activity as “neither reported nor approved.”
Karsten Witt, a German music manager and former director of the Vienna Konzerthaus, whose CLSX.de platform hosted the inaugural “Voices” festival in 2023, offered further perspective.
“It was only natural to involve Marina Davydova as an expert,” Witt remarked. “She provided us with invaluable advice and facilitated essential contacts. She did not appear in person, nor were we obliged to compensate her.”
Markus Hinterhäuser, the director of the Salzburg Festival, elaborated on the termination, citing adherence to contractual obligations and clear regulations regarding secondary employment.
“There are contractual obligations and you have to stick to these contracts. And there are very clear rules for secondary employment,” Hinterhäuser explained in an interview with Ö1. He emphasized that artistic differences or interpersonal conflicts played no role in the decision. Hinterhäuser intends to personally select the future acting director without resorting to a formal search process.
– What are the potential repercussions of this legal battle for both Marina Davydova and the Salzburg Festival’s future?
## Interview with Arts Journalist Sabine Fischer on the Marina Davydova Dismissal
**Host:** Sabine, thank you for joining us today to discuss the sudden and controversial dismissal of Marina Davydova from the Salzburg Festival.
**Sabine:** It’s my pleasure to be here. This situation is certainly a shock to the arts community and raises some serious questions.
**Host:** As we understand it, Davydova vehemently denies any wrongdoing and plans to legally challenge her dismissal. Can you tell us more about that?
**Sabine:** Absolutely. Davydova claims the dismissal is completely unlawful and goes against her contract, which wasn’t due to expire until 2026 [1]. Her lawyer, Gerald Ganzger, has publicly refuted the festival’s claim that Davydova held a competing part-time job. He clarified that her alleged “secondary employment” was serving on a two-person board of a cultural institution, hardly a direct conflict of interest.
**Host:** It seems the specifics of Davydova’s alleged breach of contract are still unclear.
**Sabine:** That’s right. The festival hasn’t publicly provided substantial justification for the dismissal, leaving many to speculate about the true reasons behind this abrupt decision.
**Host:** This situation has certainly attracted a lot of attention. What are some of the reactions you’ve heard within the art world?
**Sabine:** There’s a mix of shock, concern, and anger. Many see this as a damaging blow to the Salzburg Festival’s reputation and a worrying precedent for artistic directors.
**Host:** Where do you see this situation going from here?
**Sabine:** It’s likely headed for the courtroom. Davydova seems determined to fight for her rights and clear her name. This legal battle could have significant repercussions for both Davydova and the festival’s future.
**Host:** Sabine, thanks for shedding light on this complicated situation. We’ll be sure to follow developments and keep our audience informed.
**[1]: https://www.krone.at/3608556**
