The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has announced its 2023 festival and it will feature a very heavy emphasis on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

“As a musician and singer, I firmly believe in the power of music and the human voice. Therefore, the Orpheus myth is naturally one of the ancient stories that fascinates me most. It heartens me when I read about the wondrous effect of Orpheus’ music: how it could pacify the most threatening enemies — even death — and how it could change lives in a way that would have been unthinkable if he had not desperately dared to challenge the world’s eternal laws,” said Cecilia Bartoli, Artistic Director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, on how she came up with this year’s program.

This year’s festival kicks off with Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” in a production by Christof Loy conducted by Gianluca Capuano. The cast includes Cecilia Bartoli, Mélissa Petit, and Madison Nonoa. The showcase will also feature Il Canto di Orfeo and Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco.

Performance Dates: May 26 & 28, 2023.

Next up is “Opera in Concert,” featuring Haydn’s “L’Anima del Filosofo ossia Orfeo ed Euridice.” The work stars Thomas Hampson, Cecilia Bartoli, Rolando Villazón, and Mélissa Petit among others. The showcase will also feature Il Canto di Orfeo and Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco.

Performance Dates: May 27, 2023.

For those looking for the French version of Gluck’s masterpiece, no worries because next up is “Orphée et Eurydice” starring Maxim Mironov, Edvin Revazov, Andriana Chuchman, Anna Laudere, and Lucía Martín-Cartón. Audiences will see the Camerata Salzburg, the Hamburg Ballet, and the Bach Choir Salzburg in performance. Kazuki Yamada conducts.

Performance Dates: May 27, 2023.

There will then be a Puppet Theatre dedicated to Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo” conducted by Gianluca Capuano. The cast stars Renato Dolcini, Carlotta Colombo, Sara Mingardo, Marco Saccardin, Salvo Vitale, and Massimo Altieri, among others.

Performance Dates: May 28, 2023.  

To close out the season the Salzburg Whitsun Festival will depart a bit from Orpheus and instead celebrate the career of Daniel Barenboim. First up will be a Schubertiade starring Bartoli, Martha Argerich, and Barenboim himself.

Performance Dates: May 29, 2023.  

And then there will be a Benefit Gala in homage to the famed conductor with such artists as Martha Argerich, Lang Lang, Sonya Yoncheva, Bartoli, Villazón, and Plácido Domingo headlining. Zubin Mehta conducts the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Performance Dates: May 29, 2023.