Großes Festspielhaus (Grand Festival Theatre), Salzburg, Austria

Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Austria_august2010_0122.jpg
Author: Peterburg23


The Grosses Festspielhaus or Grand Festival Theatre is one of the main theatres in Salzburg, Austria. It is located within Salzburg's World Heritage Site.

The Grosses Festspielhaus sits on the site of former palace stables. The stables were erected in 1606 for Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. Johann Bernhard Fisher von Erlach designed its northern façade. The marble fountain, called Pferdeschwemme - horses' through - was built in 1695.

History of the Großes Festspielhaus

The idea to build a theatre complex for Salzburg dates back to 1917. The stables were converted for this purpose. The project was carried out in the 1920's under the direction of Austria's most famous architect, Clemens Holzmeister.

The Grand Theatre, or Grosses Festspeilhaus, was only completed in 1960. The inaugural performance was Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Its huge stage was carved right out of the face of the Mönchsberg mount. The theatre can accommodate 2,400 spectators at one time.

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