Salzburg State Theatre

To the south of the Mirabell Garden in the middle of the city of Salzburg, theatre has been performed since the 18th century.

Also in our days one can experience the theatre in its whole range in the four-special-house situated here. The Salzburg Landestheater cultivates the large classical repertoire as well as modern and contemporary works. In summer, the building, which seats around 1,000, is also used by the Salzburg Festival for theatre performances and occasionally for opera productions.

History of origins
In 1775 Prince Archbishop Hieronymus Franz Josef von Colloredo-Mannsfeld had a "Fürsterzbischöfliches Hoftheater" built instead of the Ballhaus built in 1625. The building was solemnly opened with Christian Heinrich Schmid's "Die Gunst des Fürsten" ("The Favour of the Prince") and soon Schiller's dramas were performed - committed to enlightenment. The Mozart family was also among the theatregoers and Mozart's music has been heard in this house since 1776. 1784 saw the beginning of the continuous cultivation of Mozart's repertoire with the opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio".
In 1944 the Salzburg Landestheater was closed due to the war and adapted by the Americans in 1945.

Salzburger Kammerspiele
In October 1971 the Salzburger Landestheater received a permanent small stage with the Kammerspiele in the former Mirabell-Casino, which was opened with "Change" by Wolfgang Bauer. In the mid-1980s the stage was converted into a multifunctional venue, a kind of "black box". The programme focuses on modern contemporary drama, works by older masters in an updated concept and children's and youth theatre. Thus, plays by Peter Turrini, Werner Schwab, Henrik Ibsen, Thomas Bernhard, Jean-Paul Sartre, Franz Wittenbrink, but also those by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe or Molière can be seen here.

Salzburg Landestheater Today
Under the artistic direction of Lutz Hochstraate from 1986 to 2004, a children's and youth theatre was added to the Drei-Sparten-Haus. After an extensive renovation in 2003/04, Peter Dolder took over the direction of the Salzburg Landestheater with the 2004/05 season. Since the 2009/10 season, Dr. Carl. Philip von Maldeghem is in charge of the theatre.
The programme, which has a strong contemporary focus, is directed by a "Salzburg dramaturgy" with clear artistic lines. In addition to operetta and Italian opera, the focus in music theatre is on the cultivation of Mozart's repertoire, discoveries outside the European opera horizon as well as baroque and contemporary opera. The principle of integrated children's and youth theatre is held particularly high.
The Landestheater has its own drama, opera and dance ensemble; the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg acts as the house orchestra.

Contact:
Schwarzstrasse 22
5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 (0)662 871512-222