- Berlin Philharmonic resumes performances in Salzburg, securing "The Ring" cycle concerts until the year 2030.
The renowned Berliner Philharmoniker, in collaboration with Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov, are set to embark on a major project in Austria. This ambitious endeavour will see the revival of Richard Wagner's epic opera cycle, "Ring des Nibelungen", at the Salzburg Easter Festival from 2026 to 2030.
Kirill Serebrennikov, the director for this project, has already filmed scenes for the project this summer in Iceland. He describes his project as a "total work of art", a "community", and "limitlessness". The Berliner Philharmoniker's chief conductor, Kirill Petrenko, considers this project as the absolute highlight of his artistic career.
The "Ring des Nibelungen" is a festival play for three days and one evening, consisting of four operas: "Das Rheingold", "Die Walküre", "Siegfried", and "Götterdämmerung". The cycle will begin at the Easter Festival in 2026 with "Das Rheingold".
The Berliner Philharmoniker and its chief conductor Kirill Petrenko will return to the Easter Festival Salzburg, a venue they last graced in 2012. The festival, founded in 1967 by conductor Herbert von Karajan, has featured the "Ring" opera cycle in its early editions.
The project will be interrupted in 2028 by Arnold Schoenberg's opera "Moses und Aron". Following this interlude, the cycle will continue with "Die Walküre" in 2029, "Siegfried" in 2030, and concluding with "Götterdämmerung".
The location of the project is in Austria, with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Serebrennikov's team preparing to bring Wagner's operas to life in a unique and immersive setting. The staging direction for the "Ring des Nibelungen" at the Salzburg Easter Festival will be led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
This project promises to be a significant cultural event, showcasing each of the four operas in a different continent or world region. The Berliner Philharmoniker's return to the Easter Festival Salzburg is eagerly anticipated, and with Serebrennikov at the helm, audiences can expect an unforgettable experience.
