Date: 16. April - 25. April 2011

Philosophy of the Salzburg Easter Festival

The Salzburg Easter Festival is considered to be one of the most renowned and most exclusive classical festivals in the world. The festival was founded by Herbert von Karajan in 1967, with the aim of presenting music of the highest artistic quality, and the unconditional claim he made then has been fulfilled ever since, thanks to the continuous cooperation with the Berlin Philharmonic under its successive artistic directors. Every year the Salzburg Easter Festival offers an international public the unique opportunity to experience this world-class orchestra in 10 days in all its diversity.

Besides the orchestral concerts in the Grosses Festspielhaus, the chamber music cycle Kontrapunkte,founded by Claudio Abbado and planned by members of the Berlin Philharmonic, has in recent years become an integral part of the programme of the Salzburg Easter Festival. The truly special feature of the Salzburg Easter Festival is, however, the unique opportunity to hear the Berlin Philharmonic not only performing in concerts but also as an opera orchestra when they play in the orchestra pit of the Grosses Festspielhaus for the annual opera production of the Salzburg Easter Festival.

The enterprise philosophy of the Salzburg Easter Festival is to a certain extent directed towards exclusiveness and this is reflected not only in demanding and at the same time appealing programme planning but also by engaging the best possible artists. The structure of the festival’s financial basis also goes back to the founding philosophy. Herbert von Karajan founded the Salzburg Easter Festival as a private festival so as to have the greatest possible financial and artistic independence in order to fulfil the dream of his own festival. Nowadays the major part of the financial means that are available annually to the Easter Festival still come from private sources. This means that the circle of select sponsors who have been loyal to the festival for many years, and also the exemplary Association of Patrons who come from all over the world have a very special significance. The Association of Patrons of the Salzburg Easter Festival also goes back to the time of Herbert von Karajan, and there are still many cases of membership dating from the founding year of the festival. This testifies not least to the fact that members and patrons are highly appreciative of the family atmosphere and the privilege of identifying themselves with the Easter Festival. The supportive role of members of the Association of Patrons is thereby not limited merely to providing financial support. It is more to do with the fact that the patrons provide a high degree of non-material support which is based on their long-standing years of loyalty.

Quelle:www.salzburg.info