The Salzburg Whitun Festival has announced its 2019 season, which also included a special message from its artistic director Cecilia Bartoli.

“It is no coincidence that I can realize the idea now, when discussions about the abuse of the bodily integrity of artists have become so topical,” Bartoli stated in a press released. “In the name of art, thousands of boys were mutilated – a terrible tradition which was kept alive for centuries and only rarely questioned. Given this background, I wondered whether the great artistic accomplishments of this era should be celebrated at all by performing these pieces of music? To me, the answer is obvious: yes, absolutely. However, their art must be illuminated from other perspectives too, and the highly problematic context discussed.”

Opera

The 2019 version of the festival will kickoff with Handel’s “Alcina” which will feature Bartoli, Philippe Jaroussky, Sandrine Piau, Kristina Hammarström, and Alastair Miles. Damiano Michieletto directs and Gianluca Capuano conducts.

Performance Dates: June 7, 9 2019

“Polifemo” takes the stage a day later with a cast that includes Yuriy Mynenko, Max Emanuel Cencic, Pavel Kudinov, Julia Lezhneva, and Nian Wang, among others.

Performance Dates: June 8, 2019

Other Events

A gala concert “Farinelli and Friends” will also showcase the talents of Rolando Villazón, Julie Fuchs, Patricia Petibon, Sandrine Piau, Nuria Rial, Cecilia Bartoli, Vivica Genaux, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Philippe Jaroussky, and Christophe Dumaux, among others.

Performance Dates: June 8, 2019

There will also be Caldara’s Oratorio “La Morte d’Abel” which will be conducted by Capuano with Fuchs, Dumaux, Rial, Lea Desandre, and Nahuel Di Pierro taking on the solo parts.

Performance Dates: June 9, 2019

Audiences can also relish in performances of the “Stabat Mater” by Pergolesi with Bartoli and Franco Fagioli as well as the “Stabat Mater” of Arvo Pärt.