90th anniversary of the Salzburg Festival

July 17 - October 26, 2010

The Salzburg Festival will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2010. As envisaged by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, one of the Festival's founders, the occasion will call for a celebration that will not only last for weeks but also incorporate the entire city.

Exhibition: "The Great World Theater"
As part of a multifaceted Festival exhibition, a series of shows will be held from July 17 to October 26, 2010 focusing on "The Great World Theater." The history of the Salzburg Festival will not only be presented in the Festival's own concert halls but also documented in a large multimedia show at venues including the Salzburg Museum, the Residence Gallery, St. Peter's and Mozart's Birthplace.

Starting with the founding idea of the "work of peace following the horrors of World War I," continuing with the historic development and establishment of the Festival, the journey leads to the very heart of the Festival, culminating in the main installation on the "world stage" – a stylized stage with a multimedia program.

Audio-video experience
A superb quality of the Salzburg Festival's legendary concert and stage recordings will be presented in the Salzburg Museum Peristyle. An inner curtain will be "inscribed" around the Peristyle," partly enclosing the hall and creating a new sense of space that invites visitors to linger. Some of the chairs will be taken from Festival productions.

Walk-in encyclopedia
A walk-in encyclopedia entitled "The Salzburg Festival from A to Z" will offer a dramaturgical setting allowing visitors to explore the Salzburg Festival. Again, this concept follows the idea of the founding fathers: "The entire city is a stage."
In cooperation with numerous other institutions in Salzburg, a tour of the Festival's history is called to life, exemplified by prominent places and concepts. The topics range from A as in architecture to G as in genius loci,  J as in Jedermann and V as in Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to Z as in Zeitgeist. With the help of stylized letters reminiscent of readily opened books or tilt-down shelves, stations will be set up throughout the city connecting specific objects with the corresponding terms in the encyclopedia and their location.