Salzburger Dom | © DomQuartier
Ouverture Spirituelle
Since 2012, during the opening days of the Salzburg Festival the Ouverture spirituelle has focused on the centuries-old tradition of sacred music and dialogue between religions. Besides having a central theme, the concerts are closely related to the overall Festival programme.
Concept
The concept of the Ouverture spirituelle is based on two main aspects: the centuries-old tradition of sacred music in Salzburg, as the seat of the prince-archbishops, and the dialogue between religions. Every year, sacred works by Catholic and Protestant composers are juxtaposed with those from other world religions. The dialogue takes place not only in music, but also in the Disputationes, the annual symposium attended by representatives of the great world religions as well as by prominent protagonists from culture and the sciences.
Venues
In addition to the Grosses Festspielhaus and the Felsenreitschule, the Ouverture spirituelle also uses the Great Hall of the Mozarteum Foundation and the Kollegienkirche as performance venues.
Program 2025
The “Ouverture Spirituelle” of the 2025 Salzburg Festival has the motto “Fatum” and is dedicated to the theme of fate. It will feature works that express human suffering, hope and the search for meaning through music. These include Hans Werner Henze's oratorio “Das Floß der Medusa”, Salvatore Sciarrino's music theater “Macbeth” and Igor Stravinsky's “Oedipus Rex” with Christoph Waltz as the narrator. The concerts take place at various venues in Salzburg and combine classical church music with modern compositions. The aim is to encourage the audience to reflect on fate and their own role in life.
