What makes the Salzburg Marionette Theatre different from other theatres? – On the stage, the marionettes are the protagonists, and the people are behind – or rather, above it all. Because, while down on the stage these finely-crafted marionettes perform plays, fairy-tales, musicals and operas, it's the skilled puppeteers two metres above them who guide all their movements with a special technique, each on 12 strings. The puppeteers, who have mastered this unique method, bring the marionettes to miraculous life.
This special performance technique, has been declared a cultural asset worthy of preservation, as the "most highly developed form of puppet and figure theatre", earning the Salzburg Marionette Theatre a place in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
We have had a fantastic week with eight wonderful performances, over 2,500 visitors and many unforgettable impressions. Many thanks to Matthias Bundschuh, Georg Baselitz, Dominique Horwitz, Isabelle Faust and her chamber ensemble, the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac and the entire team of the Salzburg Festival – and to all visitors!
The Salzburg Marionette Theatre is looking forward to two tours this autumn: In September, the marionettes will travel to Japan to present the musical The Sound of Music at Expo Osaka and in Matsumoto. In November, the production will also be performed in the USA: in Modesto, Casper and Ketchum.
In 1965, Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer sang in the Salzburg region in one of the most successful musical film adaptations of all time. Since then, The Sound of Music – honored with five Oscars – has captivated over a billion people worldwide. In the anniversary year 2025, exhibitions and performances will celebrate this timeless classic in Salzburg.