Berlin Philharmonic again at Easter Festival
Culture
The Berlin Philharmonic, the founding orchestra of the Salzburg Easter Festival, will return to the festival as a permanent orchestra from 2026. This was announced by the Easter Festival tour on Monday morning.
Director Nikolaus Bachler announced the change by mail. He took over the artistic direction of the Salzburg Easter Festival in 2022: “I am very pleased that we have been able to bind the founding orchestra back to this very special festival — because the Berlin Philharmonic and Salzburg have a history together that goes back more than 40 years, which will blossom again with chief conductor Kirill Petrenko,” Bachler is quoted as saying.
“In 2025 we want to welcome a different top orchestra to the Easter Festival every year,” added Bachler. For Heuer, Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig have been engaged for the festival, which starts on April 1st. Richard Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” is coming to the opera stage for the first time – with Elina Garanca, Marlis Petersen and Jonas Kaufmann.
In 2012 “Berliner” moved to Baden-Baden
Since the founding of the Easter Festival under Herbert von Karajan from 1967 to 2012, the Berlin Philharmonic has been the festival’s main orchestra. In 2011 there was a break, the “Berliner” moved to Baden-Baden. Higher fees beckoned there, according to one reasoning at the time – more on that in “Berliners” say goodbye (salzburg.ORF.at; April 9, 2012).
From 2013 to 2022, the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden under Christian Thielemann took over as the regular orchestra at the Salzburg Easter Festival. Thielemann also takes over as artistic director of the festival.
Bachler’s appointment brought about a break with Thielemann
The appointment of Nikolaus Bachler as commercial director of the Easter Festival from 2020 and director from 2022 led to disagreements between him and Thielemann even before he took up his post. In September 2019, the shareholders (state and city of Salzburg, Salzburger Land Tourismus, Karajan Foundation and sponsors) intervened in the conflict and promised not to extend the contract with the Staatskapelle and Thielemann after 2022.
Bachler’s concept then envisages an annually changing orchestra. But even before the musicians of the first guest – in 2023 the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under Andris Nelsons – climbed into the orchestra pit for the first time, Bachler announced the return of the Berliners from 2026. He has not yet said that the program for 2026 will be announced the year before.
In Baden-Baden, given the return of the Berlin Philharmonic to Salzburg on Monday, it was emphasized that the connection to the orchestra should also be maintained after 2025 through joint concert projects.