Berlin's Philharmonic Orchestra renews performing engagement in Salzburg until the year 2030, focusing on the "Ring" cycle.
The Salzburg Easter Festival, a renowned cultural event in Austria, is set to welcome a significant return in 2026. The Berlin Philharmonic, once the orchestra of the Easter Festival Salzburg until 2012, will be performing Richard Wagner's epic "Ring Cycle".
The "Ring Cycle", a four-opera masterpiece, will begin with "Das Rheingold" in 2026. The cycle will continue with "Die Walküre", "Siegfried", and "Götterdämmerung", and is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
The collaboration between the Berlin Philharmonic and the Salzburg Easter Festival for this monumental performance is led by conductor Kirill Petrenko. Petrenko, who is also the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for the "Ring Cycle" performances, considers this project as the "absolute highlight" of his artistic career, apart from his engagement with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Russian stage and film director Kirill Serebrennikov will direct the "Ring Cycle" performances at the Easter Festival in Salzburg, as announced by the festival. Serebrennikov's "Ring Cycle" project is described as a "total work of art", "community" and "boundlessness". Each of the four operas in the "Ring Cycle" will showcase a different continent or world region, according to Serebrennikov.
The "Ring Cycle" was part of the early editions of the Easter Festival in Salzburg, and its return is a testament to the enduring legacy of the festival. The cycle will be interrupted in 2028 by Arnold Schoenberg's opera "Moses und Aron".
The Easter Festival in Salzburg was founded in 1967 by conductor Herbert von Karajan. The festival, with its rich history and commitment to musical excellence, promises an unforgettable experience for audiences in 2026 and beyond.
This renewed partnership between the Berlin Philharmonic and the city of Mozart is a significant milestone for both parties. Petrenko described the partnership as "closing many circles". The "Ring Cycle" performances at the Salzburg Easter Festival are undoubtedly an event not to be missed for classical music enthusiasts.
