From Seattletimes · · 1m 30s
Peter de Caluwe to lead Salzburg Festival in 2027
Belgian artist Peter de Caluwe starts Salzburg Festival role in October 2027 after mentoring by Gerard Mortier.
In brief
Belgian artist Peter de Caluwe starts Salzburg Festival role in October 2027 after mentoring by Gerard Mortier. Peter de Caluwe becomes Salzburg Festival artistic director in October 2027, following a decade at La Monnaie and mentoring by Gerard Mortier. Originally reported by Seattletimes.
New artistic director
Peter de Caluwe will become artistic director of the Salzburg Festival in October 2027 after an innovative tenure at Brussels’ La Monnaie known for world premieres and provocative programming.
Replaces Markus Hinterhäuser
De Caluwe replaces Markus Hinterhäuser, forced out in March after a decade in charge, and takes a position once held by his mentor Gerard Mortier.
2027 planning underway
De Caluwe starts a five-year term on Oct. 1, 2027, with his first mostly programmed summer in 2029 after working with interim director Karin Bergmann.
Festival president term
Kristina Hammer, festival president since 2022, receives a second five-year term starting January 1, 2027.
Multilingual background
De Caluwe, a 63-year-old Belgian who speaks French, Dutch, English, German and Italian, first attended the festival in 1980 for Mozart’s 'Le Nozze di Figaro'.
Controversial programming
De Caluwe’s La Monnaie tenure featured 160 productions including 23 world premieres, with only about five causing significant controversy.
Future venue plans
The festival plans an interim venue in Salzburg’s old city for 2029 and 2030 due to Grosses Festspielhaus reconstruction, with a possible 'Der Rosenkavalier' staging in 2031.
The takeaway
Peter de Caluwe becomes Salzburg Festival artistic director in October 2027, following a decade at La Monnaie and mentoring by Gerard Mortier.
