Europe has opened the traditional Easter markets, and many European cities are hosting April Arts festivals.
The most famous is perhaps the Salzburg Easter Festival. This year it will be held on April 16-25.
The Salzburg Festival is one of the most exclusive and reputable developments in the field of classical music. Mozart’s Hometown is traditionally the place for the festivals. This year the famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by no less eminent conductor Sir Simon Rattle will perform.
The main event of the festival is going to be the “Salome” by Richard Strauss, staged by Stefan Herheim and accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic. This is not the first time he brings his works to the festival: The Norwegian, who lives and works in Berlin, staged Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” in Salzburg in 2003. Probably the new play will be no less provocative. The premiere of the one-act “Salome” by Oscar Wilde, translated into German by Hedwig Lachmann, took place in 1905 and was accompanied by a terrible scandal, since Beardsley’s illustrations, Strauss’ music and the opera itself were too “decadent” for the Victorian taste of the audience of that era.
The Salzburg festival’s program also includes “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky, Alban Berg’s “Seven Early Songs,” Maurice Ravel’s “Sheherazade” and many other concerts.
If you love music, there are many other countries you can head to this spring.
In Poland, on April 9-22 you can take part in the Beethoven Festival, which will include not only Beethoven’s works, but also the works by Franz Liszt (whose bicentenary is celebrated this year in Europe), Gustav Mahler (this year marks the centenary of his death), Johannes Brahms, Schumann, Chopin, Haydn, Mozart and other composers. The Fine Arts Quartet and the American orchestra of chamber music will also perform at the opening ceremony at the National Museum as special guests of the festival.
Spring Music Festival will be held in Prague on April 19-30. All festival concerts will take place in the most famous music halls of the city — the church of St. Simon and Jude, Smetana Hall, Municipal House and the Dvorak Hall in Rudolfinum. In addition to the mandatory Dvorak, Bach, Brahms, Wagner and Tchaikovsky, this year’s program includes jazz performances of Prague Jazz Quintet. The special guest of the festival will be the Austrian pianist Paul Badura-Skoda, who will perform Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Frank Martin.
In Lucerne, Switzerland, on April 9-17 the Easter Arts Festival will take place, and it will feature the Chamber Orchestra of Europe directed by Bernard Haitink, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mariss Jansons and the brilliant Japanese pianist Mitsuko Isis.
Incidentally, one of the best hotels in Lucerne — Palace Luzern — is located close to the square where the festival will be held. It is well-prepared for hosting the guests of the festival. As a very tempting special offer we should mention the Spa & Sounds. The offer includes a ticket to one of the concerts of the festival, hotel accommodation for two nights and spa procedures for 882 CHF (about $971) per person. The offer is valid from 8 to 18 of April.
