The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The festival announced stated, “Until today, we still had hope that due to the consistent and courageous measures of the Austrian government the situation would ease off in time and that the Whitsun Festival 2020 could take place as planned However, as announced in the press conference of the Austrian government on April 6, 2020, it is necessary to prohibit performances of all kind in Austria until the end of June, in order not to peril the so far succesful containment of the coronavirus.”

The festival continued, “With our deep regret it is therefore also forbidden to stage the performances of this year’s Whitsun Festival. Naturally, also for us health has absolute priority over all artistic and economic matters.”

All ticket holders will receive details for refund procedures by email.

The Whitsun Festival was originally scheduled to open on May 29 and was set to present a new production of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” starring Cecilia Bartoli and Javier Camarena.