Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Sings Christopher Plummer who plays Captain von Trapp in the The Sound of Music. The movie, based on the famous Rogers & Hammerstein musical, is about the real Von Trapp family who leave Austria to escape the Nazis. "Edelweiss," is one of its most famous songs and is performed at the Felsenreitschule, based in Salzburg, Austria. Read on to learn more about the musical theater's rich heritage, including the Von Trapps, and how you can experience its legacy today.
Follow Felsenreitschule’s History
Built in 1693 as a riding school (its literal meaning is "rock riding school") and hunting venue for local archbishops, the Felsenreitschule transformed into an open-air theater nearly 250 years later (1926). The transformation was prompted by the Salzburg Festival, one of the world’s premier festivals for opera, music, and drama hosted for more than 100 years and being hosted this summer today.
Throughout the 20th century, the Felsenreitschule stage witnessed many theatrical and musical performances, securing its identity as a beacon of the performing arts. Notable performances include:
- 1933: "Faust Town", a multiple-stage setting for Max Reinhardt's legendary production of Goethe's Faust, designed by Clemens Holzmeister
- 1948: Herbert von Karajan first used the Felsenreitschule as an opera stage, for performances of Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice
- 1949: Premiere of Carl Orff's setting of the ancient tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, translated into German by Friedrich Hölderlin, conducted by Ferenc Fricsay
And, of course, the venue was used for The Sound of Music, a 1965 musical-romance film based on the real-life story of Maria von Trapp.
Felsenreitschule’s Famous Architecture
With a unique open-air design and baroque façade, Felsenreitschule became a centerpiece of Salzburg’s cultural life, a city renowned for its ties to classical music, including as the birthplace of Mozart.
Its arena includes a dramatic natural rock face and cascading tiers of arcades delivering a truly unique acoustic experience. The surroundings make the perfect setup for The Sound of Music-related performances, tributes to the Von Trapps, and more.
Echo the Von Trapps at Felsenreitschule
While the real Von Trapp family did not perform at the Felsenreitschule (it was used for the movie) the venue's association with the city's musical heritage closely aligns with the family's legacy.
Renowned for musical talents, the Von Trapp family, became an emblem of hope and resilience, transcending the confines of their narrative in their biographical movie with a real-life escape from Nazi-occupied Austria. Their music carried the essence of Austrian culture, which they shared with the world through their performances.
With the arena, echoes of the past converge with the present, allowing the spirit of the Von Trapp family to continue inspiring generations.
Von Trapps singing at Felsenreitschul: source
Preserve the Legacy: Experience Felsenreitschule Today
The Felsenreitschule emblemizes Salzburg's cultural history and commitment to the arts, hosting a wide range of operas, plays, and concerts, yet, modernized (including soundproofing) to accommodate contemporary productions while retaining its historic character and charm.
Today, experience the famous theater with Music Traveler, which allows you to book Felsenreitschule and other historic spaces around the world to for events, rehearsals, recordings, and more. Venue types include museums, concert halls, palaces, castles, stadiums, theaters, and homes. Plus, find equipment and instruments with the platform, too (in addition to soundproofing, Felsenreitschule includes a grand piano).
Ready to book Felsenreitschule?
Need something more intimate, in a different location, or, have other artistic needs? Sign up to search Music Traveler, or contact us.
