With operas, dramas and symphonies, the Salzburg Festival in Austria offers a plethora of cultural and artistic experiences. Founded in 1877 and revived in 1920 following a lengthy hiatus, the festival now celebrates both contemporary and classical performances, from Mozart to modern dramas. Guests can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains by day, then relax and take in the sounds of the festival's various singers, artists and orchestras at night.
This annual September concert series celebrates the music of Joseph Haydn and takes place at the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria. The Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra serves as the orchestra-in-residence, and previous participating ensembles have included the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra and the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra, among many others.
Established during the Cold War, the springtime Dresden Music Festival still retains its connection between East and West in its annual performance themes. The festival attracts visitors from Germany as well as around the world, and includes not only musical performances but also operas, ballets and even fireworks. Previous guest performers have included Marilyn Horne, Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, and Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic.
Nearly every city with a German heritage seems to celebrate the annual Oktoberfest, but the original remains the best and most famous. Munich's Oktoberfest is just as famous for its music as it is for its beer, especially with its signature brass bands. Just make sure you book early, because tickets and hotel rooms sell out quickly in advance of the festivities.
Music fans wanting a different, but still very European, musical experience should definitely check out the Rototom Sunsplash Reggae Festival, one of the largest of its kind on the Continent. Established in 1994, the festival draws tens of thousands of fans young and old to its location in Osoppo, near Udine in northeastern Italy. In addition to live concerts, the festival boasts workshops, photo exhibits, films, documentaries and dance performances.
If opera is more to your liking, try the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy. Held in the summer and founded in 1980 by the town council, the festival celebrates the music of Giochino Rossini, who was born in the town in 1792 and is perhaps best known for "Il barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville) and "Guillaume Tell" (William Tell). Tickets are available online through the festival's website (rossinioperafestival.it/).
