Post World War II Festivals
The post-war festival slowly regained its prominence as the premier summer opera festival, especially in works by Mozart, with conductor Herbert von Karajan becoming artistic director in 1956. In 1960 the Great Festival Hall (Großes Festspielhaus) opera house opened its doors. As this summer festival gained fame and stature as the premier venue for opera, drama, and classical concert presentation, its musical repertoire concentrated on Mozart and Strauss, but other works, such as Verdi's Falstaff and Beethoven's Fidelio, were also performed.
Upon Karajan's death in 1989, the festival was modernized by director Gerard Mortier, succeeded by Peter Ruzicka in 2001. In 2006, Salzburg celebrated the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth by staging all 22 of his operatic works (including two unfinished operas), to great acclaim. All 22 were filmed and were released to the general public in November 2006. Since 2006 the festival is led by intendant Jürgen Flimm and concert director Markus Hinterhäuser. Alexander Pereira is scheduled to succeed Flimm, future director of the Berlin State Opera, after the 2011 summer festival.
Read more about this topic: Salzburg Festival
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