Salzburg and Messiaen Festival Reimagine Saint François d'Assise

To commemorate the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi's passing, the Salzburg Festival will showcase Olivier Messiaen's opera 'Saint François d'Assise,' under the direction of Romeo Castellucci and conducted by Maxime Pascal with the Vienna Philharmonic, from August 4 to 23, 2026. This avant-garde rendition incorporates live animals and features birds descending during the sermon scene. Canadian artist Philippe Sly takes the lead role, differing from the original performer, José van Dam. The Vienna Philharmonic ends with a sense of unease. Concurrently, the Messiaen Festival, scheduled for July 25 to August 1, 2026, will present a minimalist perspective, commissioning 'fioretti' from Arthur Lavandier, Frédéric Boyer, Zad Moultaka, and Maryline Desbiolles, with pianist Marie Vermeulin playing 'grands oiseaux' at both the beginning and end.