This years slogan of the Salzburg Pfingstfestival was "sacrifice". Managed by the charming italian starsinger Cecilia Bartoli this festival offered a colourful mix of opera, ballet, concert and chorusworks linked to it. The selected opera was Norma, by Vincenzo Bellini, with the managing star in the title role. Cecilia Bartoli' s voice may not be perfectly equipped for this belcanto and expressive arias but she knows with her experience how to give her interpretation...

It is Cecilia Bartoli´s first year as artistic director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival. Following Ricardo Muti she put it under the theme Cleopatra. Händel´s Opera Giulio Cesare in egitto being the main opus of the 4 Day festival. Certainly she is the key artist herself but she is surrounded by a distinct selection of stars accompanying her throughout. For the direction, costums, light and choreographie she invited the Belgian/ French Duo Moshe Leiser and Patrice...