Fact and fiction alike have linked the city of Salzburg to a memorable scene from the 1965 film The Sound of Music.
The film, inspired by the story of the von Trapp family in pre–World War II Austria, portrays a dramatic flight to freedom. During a performance at a music festival as war clouds gather, members of the singing family slip away one by one to avoid Nazi persecution and ultimately begin a new life in the United States. The movie’s concluding moments show the extended family crossing the Alps together — an image that has become iconic and closely associated with Salzburg.
Although that cinematic escape is fictional — in reality the von Trapp family left Austria more quietly, closing their home and boarding a train — they did perform at the Salzburg Festival in 1936, two years before they departed the country.
Founded in 1920 with a staging of Jedermann (Everyman), a modern interpretation of medieval morality plays by Austrian writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal, the Salzburg Festival has expanded from a single production into a citywide celebration of music, theater and culture. Apart from a pause during World War II, the festival has consistently drawn leading artists and audiences from across the globe. In recent years its international reach has been evident, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from dozens of countries.
This year’s edition runs from July 18 through August 31 and features an extensive program across multiple venues. Attendees can expect a varied lineup that includes scenic opera productions, concert operas, dramatic plays, orchestral and chamber concerts, children’s opera performances and special events such as a gala ball. The festival’s diverse offerings reflect Salzburg’s longstanding reputation as a center for high-caliber performing arts and cultural exchange.
The official festival schedule and ticketing details are published on the Salzburg Festival website.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night.