Around the Music Festival

Salzburg Easter Festival decided to change. The confrontation between Christian Thielemann, who is the artistic director, and Nikolaus Bachler, who will become general director since 2022, has surfaced over the operation of the festival. According to the report, the board raised the position of Bachler. The appearance of Thielemann and Staatskapelle Dresden (Saxon State Opera Orchestra) will end in 2022, and from 2023 it will be changed to a style in which different conductors and orchestras appear every year. There is still no reaction from Thielemann to this decision.

The direct cause of the conflict between the two is the selection of opera performances. Thielemann wanted to perform “Don Carlo” in 2020, “Turandot” in 2021, “Loenglin” in 2022, and “Electra” in 2023, but Bacharer did not accept plans for the performance from 2022 after his arrival. Bachler instructed to change to “Der Freischütz” in 2022 and “The Flying Dutchman” in 2023.

Thielemann protested that he had rebelled and casting had already been done, but Bachler did not yield. Unsatisfied Thielemann submitted to the board a letter stating that he did not agree with Bachler and that he could not continue working together. Furthermore, the confrontation surfaced by having announced it to the media.

Salzburg’s Easter Festival was founded in 1967 by Herbert von Karajan, a star conductor　of 20th century. After the end of 2012, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra disappeared, and its survival was threatened. However, since 2013, Tilemann and Staatskapelle Dresden became a successor, for a fresh restart. For that reason, Thielemann had a strong presence as the “founder of a renaissance” for the festival.

According to the decision of the Board, the opera in 2022 is “Lohengrin” with the hope of Thielemann. Bacharer’s concept is to incorporate programs such as ballet and dance into a comprehensive art festival. During the 10-day festival, a program that combines one opera, two orchestra concerts, and an orchestral concert with chorus has been established. However, it will be changed.

After the board meeting, Governor Wilfried Haslauer of Salzburg said, “We greatly appreciate Christian Thielemann and the Saxon State Orchestra in Salzburg and are very grateful for the many artistic and musical achievements, nevertheless it is after this very successful decade from the year 2022 time to develop the Easter Festival and open a new chapter with the director Nikolaus Bachler. “

Photo：Salzburg Easter Festival　/　Matthias Creutziger


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