Salzburg Festival advertises top vacancy
NewsThe post of artistic director of the Salzburg festival, held by Markus Hinterhäuser since 2016, is to be readvertised this week in Austrian media. Hinterhäuser, 64, says he is not sure he will reapply, having served two full terms.
The festival has been compromiosed in the past two years by its dependence on the Russian-backed conductor Teodor Currentzis, who is favoured by Hinterhäuser. Salzburg’s Putin ambivalence, however, conforms to the bifocal position of the Austrian government. There is no political pressure at present on the intendant’s position.
You can dwell on the controversies as much as you like, but the quality and variety of the programming during Hinterhäuser’s tenure have been far superior compared to his predecessors since Mortier left. He will be a hard act to follow.