New in our Programme: Dance & Electronic Music

Look forward to two new highlights at the Salzburg Easter Festival 24! And to an extra festival-day - because in 2024 it will begin already on Friday, 22 March 2024 with the world premiere of Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion in a choreography by Sasha Waltz. On Maundy Thursday, internationally acclaimed British DJ Max Cooper will let the sounds of Italy meet electronic beats. Both events will take place at Felsenreitschule.

Rehearsal picture of »Johannes-Passion« © Sebastian Bolesch

Sasha Waltz: »Johannes-Passion« / World Premiere

Choreographer Sasha Waltz, who comes from Karlsruhe, is dedicating herself for the first time to a musical work with religious connotations at the Easter Festival with the St. John Passion (BWV 245) by Johann Sebastian Bach. With her choreography, she stages the »Johannes-Passion« as a timeless narrative about the human search for truth and justice beyond its religious implications.

This world premiere features the choir of the Opéra de Dijon, the Chœur de chambre de Namur and the Cappella Mediterranea under the direction of Leonardo García Alarcón. The 10 dancers of the company Sasha Waltz & Guests are complemented by a vocal ensemble around Georg Nigl (Pilate) and Christian Immler (Jesus).

Max Cooper © Alex Kozobolis

Max Cooper: »Seme« 

Max Cooper has carved a unique space as an audio-visual artist with a science PhD and an international reputation as a leading electronic musician.

For the Salzburg Easter Festival, the Briton was inspired by Italy and the sound of the south with »Seme« and presents one of his live performances, celebrated by audiences and the press, which are always also an immersive audiovisual experience. Max Cooper will be supported by soprano Sarah Aristidou and cellist Niels Orens.

Other work includes commissions from The Barbican, France TV, AND& festival, Waltham Forest Borough Council, and collaborations with Zaha Hadid Architects, The Babraham Institute, and L-Acoustics alongside musical reworks of contemporary classical musicians including Philip Glass, Nils Frahm, Terry Riley and Michael Nyman and pop artists Hot Chip and Moby.