Salzburg Abusing Mozart – Again

Salzburg has – as one knows – abused Mozart during his lifetime. Occasionally, to keep up this tradition, the Salzburg Festival comes up with opera productions that are no less than abuse.

The only Mozart opera included in this year’s festival is the Magic Flute. Lydia Steier – a name to avoid! – an American, who did not understand what this opera is about, turned the Magic Flute into a children’s fable, read by an actor in add-on bits between the arias. This may be the way to explain an opera to Americans in the Midwest. It is totally absurd to do so in Austria with the most-performed opera in the German speaking world. We do not need your stupid texts, Ms. Steier. Take them home and stay there.

Sadly, the production was also not top quality musically.

For the prices they charge, the state subsidy and the commercial sponsorship they get, EVERY Salzburg production must be TOP quality. It does not suffice, to be lucky with one’s Salome and Pique Dame. Salzburg should not be allowed to produce less than the best; especially when it comes to Mozart.

Boycott Austria?

Austria’s new extremist right-wing government is sadly no surprise. We are, after all, surrounded by the USA, Poland, Hungary, Israel and the unmissable gnarls in the UK, France and Germany, to name but a few.

The Austrians have already announced that they will be cutting the monthly payments to refugees. 

Has the time come to boycott Austria back to its senses? How about skiing in France or in Italy instead?  How about giving the Salzburg Festival a miss this year? If it makes it any easier, Munich’s opera is better anyway.

Opera (this) Week

After Tristan and Isolde in Bayreuth, there was Figaro in Salzburg and last night Evgeny Onegin (with the great Anna Netrebko as Tatyana) in Munich. The week will end with Norma (Cecilia Bartoli) in Salzburg.

BUT, someone must put an end to all these tiresome directors who force their irritating productions on the opera loving public. A difficult-to-pronounce and no-reason-to-remember named director turned Evgeny Onegin into a gay plot taking place in an unclear time and place that seemed like a workers’ holiday resort in the Soviet Union. Netrebko was wonderful, even if you occasionally had to close your eyes. 

Provincial Salzburg

Saturday was the opening night of the Salzburg Festival. They performed an opera I had never heard, not even heard of before – Handel’s Theodora. The rather repetitive music is quite beautiful and pacifying to listen to. But, the music often does not convey the drama of the opera’s storyline. It was beautifully performed with splendid soloists and a wonderful choir.

I am not a music critic and the reason I am posting this story is a Salzburg phenomenon that has always amused me. Whenever one goes to opening nights or premieres at the Salzburg Festival, the narrow road in front of the Festival hall is full of local onlookers who stand to await the so called VIPs and admire them. This time, the most important guest was the President of Portugal. His car, accordingly, was marked “VIP 1”. 

Most of the popular applause, however, is not directed at the foreign dignitary but at B list media celebrities. An aging German talk show host named Gottschalk traipses up and down together with his wife to the joy of dozens of press photographers and the street shouts in jubilation. Not seen last night was Bianca Jagger, the Salzburg regular, famed divorcee of the aging rock star Mick Jagger. The likes of her or of Gloria von Thurn and Taxis regularly bring out the Salzburg hordes.