Salzkammergut Festival Weeks: “A booster for the soul”

At the Salzkammergut Festival Weeks, the stars are once again 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 again. Star conductor Franz Welser-Möst is already inviting people there on July 4th under the motto “Make music, listen & whisper” to the crossover of folk music, classical music and other genres of music, for example with Rafael Fingerlos and the Hollerstauden. On July 21st the Arnold Schoenberg Choir will perform Bruckner’s Mass No. 1 and Schönberg’s “Peace on Earth” can be heard at the Toscana Congress, followed by René Pape with a song recital on July 27th.

This year the festival weeks will be expanded to include a strong pop/crossover/indie focus. In August the new Salzburgers will perform at a second open air event “Anyone” Philipp Hochmair with his Schiller Ballad Rave (August 2nd), the indie rock duo Cari Cari (August 3rd) and Herbert Pixner (August 4th). 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, Schnitzlers took place on July 11th “flirtation” Premiere at the Stadttheater Gmunden directed by the young Anna Stiepani, for example with Samuel Finzi and Petra Morzé. Sven Eric Bechtolf is also organizing an evening on the Kafka year by reading his texts “A report for an academy” and “A little woman” crosses (August 9th/12th, City Theater). There are also a number of staged readings, such as Bernhard’s “Theater maker” with Michael Maertens and Marie-Luise Stockinger (July 26, Toscana Congress).

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. Johanna Mitterbauer is satisfied despite the turmoil: “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.

For Karin Bergmann, the festival weeks are justified, especially given the 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.”

All information on festwochen-gmunden.at