Category Archives: Salzburg’s Musical History

History of the Salzburg Festival 5, the maturation of the festival from the end of World War II to today

In Part 4 of this series, we learned about the growth of the festival starting in 1925, and the changes brought about during the Nazi years. In Part 5, we learn about superstar conductors and further changes that brought the … Continue reading

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History of the Salzburg Festival 4: Leadership of Franz Rehrl

In Part 3 of this series, we saw how the festival had a rather rocky start. In Part 4, we will see how Franz Rehrl strengthened the festival, and then how the festival dealt with the Nazi influence before and … Continue reading

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History of the Salzburg Festival 3: the Early Years

In Part 2 of this series, we learned the role of Max Reinhardt in getting the festival started. In Part 3, we will see how the festival was not an immediate success. Music is added to the festival Even after … Continue reading

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History of the Salzburg Festival 2: Max Reinhardt starts the festival

In Part 1 of this series, we saw how there were several unsuccessful attempts to start a festival in Salzburg. In Part 2, we will learn about Max Reinhardt, and how he finally succeeded in getting the festival off the … Continue reading

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History of Salzburg Festival 1: Failed attempts to start a festival

The Salzburg Festival is one of the pre-eminent annual music festivals in the world. For about six week each summer, the finest conductors, singers, instrumentalists, orchestras, and actors make Salzburg their home as they present wonderful performances. Here is a … Continue reading

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Joe Muranyi, clarinettist with Louis Armstrong, dies aged 84

Joe Muranyi, who played clarinet with Louis Armstrong for many years, died earlier this week at age 84. I was fortunate to meet Joe in 2006 when we were both participants in the “Satchmo Meets Amadeus” Conference in Salzburg. I … Continue reading

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Maria von Trapp meets the Godfather

If the nuns in Nonntal Abbey in Salzburg has chosen this approach to Maria, “The Sound of Music” would have been very different!

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The Story of Silent Night – Spreading the Hymn to the World

How Silent Night spread to the rest of the world is an interesting story by itself. In 1819, the master organ builder Karl Mauracher came to St. Nicholas Church to work on the organ. (Perhaps this is why some have … Continue reading

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Franz Gruber’s Verification of Who Wrote “Silent Night”

Even after Silent Night had become well known in Europe, no one knew who composed it. Authorities in Berlin began to search its creator, and contacted the Benedictine Monastery in Salzburg. Franz Gruber was contacted and wrote the following document … Continue reading

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Visiting the Sites of Silent Night

Unfortunately, St. Nicholas Church, where Silent Night was first performed in 1818, was torn down in 1906 because of repeated flood damage. Today, the most important Silent Night site to see is the Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Oberndorf, which … Continue reading

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