Reflections from Salzburg: An Epic Easter at the Osterfestspiele

There are few cities where history, culture, and music converge as beautifully as they do in Salzburg. Visiting during Easter weekend—particularly for the Osterfestspiele Salzburg—is a profound and transportive experience, one that engages all the senses and leaves a lasting impression on the soul.

This year, Easter Sunday in Salzburg felt like something out of a storybook. I awoke to the sound of church bells ringing across the city, their chimes echoing through cobblestone streets and rising above the rooftops of Baroque domes and medieval towers. Salzburg is home to an astonishing number of churches, each steeped in history, and on this holy morning, they were all alive with music. From organ preludes to soaring choral arrangements, the sounds of worship and celebration spilled out into the crisp spring air.

Wandering through the city in the morning light, I found myself pausing often—inside grand cathedrals and tucked-away chapels alike—to absorb the unique energy of the day. Locals and visitors moved through the streets with reverence, many dressed in their Easter best, adding to the sense of occasion and tradition.

That evening, the festival presented a performance that felt like the perfect culmination of such a day: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, the “Resurrection Symphony.” To hear this monumental work in Salzburg, a city synonymous with classical music, was nothing short of extraordinary. From the first notes, it was clear this would be a powerful and emotionally charged performance. The orchestra and chorus moved with breathtaking precision and heart, bringing Mahler’s vision of death, renewal, and transcendence to life in a way that felt both timely and timeless.

The synergy between the day’s spiritual ambiance and Mahler’s soaring final movement—a musical depiction of rebirth and eternal hope—was striking. It’s rare for a single day to feel so complete, so perfectly scored, but Easter Sunday at the Osterfestspiele achieved just that.

Salzburg continues to be a city that invites reflection and inspires awe, especially when experienced through the lens of music. I left the concert hall feeling deeply moved, grateful, and energized—a sentiment that will stay with me long after the last note faded.