Salzburg crows over orchestra coup

The Salzburg Easter Festival is banging the drum over its recapture of the Berlin Philharmonic from the rival festival at Baden-Baden. The Berlin conductor Kirill Petrenko previously led a triumphant era at Bavarian State Opera with Salzburg’s intendant Nicolaus Bachler. They are happily together again.

Here’s the press release:

The Salzburg Easter Festival will once again have a permanent resident orchestra from 2026: the Berlin Philharmonic. Herbert von Karajan founded the Easter Festival together with this orchestra in 1967 and now the orchestra is returning to the tradition-rich festival on the Salzach. “Exciting years lie ahead – until 2025 we want to welcome a different top orchestra to the Easter Festival every year,” says Nikolaus Bachler, who has taken over as Artistic Director of the Salzburg Easter Festival in 2022. “However, I am very pleased that we have succeeded in tying the founding orchestra to this very special festival again – because the Berlin Philharmonic and Salzburg have a shared history of more than 40 years, which will blossom anew with principal conductor Kirill Petrenko from 2026.”

“I would like to congratulate those responsible for the Salzburg Easter Festival, especially Artistic Director Nikolaus Bachler, on signing the Berliner Philharmoniker under Kirill Petrenko from the 2026 season, says Wilfried Haslauer, Governor of the State of Salzburg. “As one of the most important ensembles in the world with its distinctive profile, the orchestra shaped the Easter Festival for almost 45 years. The return to Salzburg is a continuation of a remarkable artistic and cultural success story and makes me extremely happy.” 

pictured: Bachler with Petrenko. press photo Bavarian State Opera/Wilfried Hösl