Salzburg Festival Confronts Leadership Crisis

The Salzburg Festival, a six-week celebration of music and theater regarded as Europe’s premier classical-music event, opened its production of *Carmen* without its longtime artistic director. In March, the festival board voted to terminate the contract of Markus Hinterhäuser, who has led the festival for more than a decade. The decision left the organization without its “captain” as the curtain rose for the new staging by director Gabriela Carrizo.

New York Times

The board’s March vote to end Hinterhäuser’s tenure sparked uncertainty among performers. Asmik Grigorian, making her debut as Carmen, said she had considered canceling the performance but chose to proceed out of loyalty to Hinterhäuser, who she credited with advancing her career. The production, staged at the Grosses Festspielhaus at the foot of the Austrian Alps, was highlighted as a high point of the festival’s program.

New York Times

• Asmik Grigorian – soprano, debuting as Carmen; praised Hinterhäuser’s mentorship.

New York Times

• Markus Hinterhäuser – artistic director of the Salzburg Festival for over ten years; contract terminated by the board in March.

New York Times

• Gabriela Carrizo – director of the new *Carmen* production.

New York Times

Grigorian described the atmosphere at the festival as “strange and empty,” comparing it to a boat without a captain. She expressed hope that the festival will continue to thrive in the manner it did under Hinterhäuser’s leadership. No official comment from the festival board or Hinterhäuser was provided in the source material.

New York Times

• “This feels very strange and empty,” — Austrian Alps. But Grigorian

New York Times