GROSSES FESTSPIELHAUS SALZBURG: STUDENTS GET BACKSTAGE

06.11.2024
News Study Program

Students of the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences with Benjamin Schmid, the artistic director of the Salzburg Cultural Association, at the Großes Festspielhaus.

In October 2024, students in the bachelor's degree program in Sport, Culture and Event Management at the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences took a field trip to the Großes Festspielhaus in Salzburg.

Initiated and accompanied by course instructor Michael Sowa, the students gained practical insights into the economic significance of the Salzburg Festival as well as into central topics of cultural management, such as program design, music education and innovative concert formats.

EXCLUSIVE GUIDED TOUR OF THE FESTIVAL THEATRES

The excursion began with a tour of the festival halls, including the historic Felsenreitschule and the Haus für Mozart. A special experience was the visit to the stage of the Großes Festspielhaus, which offered students the opportunity to experience the auditorium from the perspective of the artists.

SALZBURG CULTURAL ASSOCIATION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

After the tour, the students had the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the Salzburg Cultural Association. After the festival, it is the largest concert organizer in Salzburg and has shaped the cultural life of the city for over 75 years. It offers a diverse annual program and is known for its efforts to inspire a broad audience – especially young people – to take an interest in classical music. With innovative concert formats and targeted audience development, the cultural association makes a significant contribution to keeping the classical music scene in Salzburg accessible and vibrant. The focus was on addressing young target groups and using modern marketing strategies. Cultural mediator Gottfried Franz Kasparek prepared the group perfectly for the subsequent concert with an introductory lecture.

CONCERT BY Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

The highlight of the evening was a concert by the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana under the direction of Markus Poschner, with the renowned flautist Emmanuel Pahud. The performance was very well received and offered the students an impressive musical experience that highlighted the importance of a well-thought-out program.

Meeting with the new artistic director, Benjamin Schmid

After the concert, the new artistic director of the cultural association, Benjamin Schmid, personally welcomed the students and gave insights into his future plans for the institution.

This excursion offered the students a valuable opportunity to experience the implementation of cultural management in practice and to supplement theoretical knowledge with direct experience.