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Salzburg Advent Singing in the Großen Festspielhaus | © Salzburger Adventsingen/Vogl

Salzburg Advent Singing

December 1-17, 2023

Advent in Salzburg simply wouldn’t be the same without Advent Singing. For over 75 years, folk music, small vocal ensembles and Alpine melodies carrying a message of peace have enchanted audiences and sparked the Christmas spirit in everyone.

A uniquely Salzburg genre

Tobi Reiser Sr. founded Advent Singing back in 1946, and in doing so created a whole new genre. He was a musician and singer, and an avid promoter of local folk traditions. He invited audiences to enjoy concerts of music and song focused on the Advent message – at that time, in unheated rooms! In 1960, the event relocated to the Grosses Festspielhaus, which had just been completed.

Highlight Event at the Grosses Festspielhaus

In its gentle restraint, Salzburg Advent Singing at the Grosses Festspielhaus radiates a unique sense of intimacy, drawing 36,000 visitors from 38 different countries to performances every year. A central component of the event at the Grosses Festspielhaus are gentle, reflective and joyful folk melodies performed by musicians and vocalists, Alpine folk traditions along with plays which bring out the Christmas message. With over 150 musicians, actors and shepherd children participating, the story of Advent is viewed from a slightly different perspective every year.

Program of Salzburg Advent Singing 'Don´t fear...!'

The story of the Advent Singing 2023 goes back to the time around the birth of Christ. At the center are two events: On the outskirts of Bethlehem, shepherds tend their sheep and listen to the tales of Rabbi Jacob, who said, 'Don´t fear...!' At the same time, two Jewish women in Nazareth converse about their unusual pregnancies, announced to both by an angel with the words, 'Don´t fear...!'

This edition of the Great Advent Singing offers new ways of thinking and takes visitors on an imaginary journey into the life and faith of that Jewish community where Christ was born. 

  • With compositional works from the pen of Shane Woodborne
  • with 150 participants and the carefree play of the shepherd children
  • and numerous vocal and folk music treasures

Salzburg Advent Festival 29.11.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 30.11.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 30.11.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 01.12.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 01.12.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 06.12.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 07.12.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 07.12.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 08.12.2024

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Salzburg Advent Festival 08.12.2024

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Other Performances

Visitors to Salzburg can also enjoy the peaceful, festive sounds of the season at “Original Salzburger Advent ®” in St. Andrew’s Church and at “Tobi Reiser Advent Singing” in the Great Hall of Salzburg University.

For a complete overview, we suggest browsing our Advent Event Calendar...

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