since 1946 in Salzburg
History of the Salzburg Advent Singing
The Salzburg Advent Singing is regarded as the nucleus and the great model for numerous “Advent Singings” throughout the German-speaking world. Over two million visitors have already attended this unique Salzburg Advent event. Currently, around 36,000 people flock to the Salzburg Advent Singing in the Grosses Festspielhaus every year. With over 150 singers, musicians, actors and shepherd children from Salzburg and the neighboring cultural regions, the Advent events are viewed from a new perspective every year.
Living traditions and memories of one’s own childhood are an essential element for visitors at the Salzburg Advent Singing. Traditional folk songs and tunes are combined with classical elements, new compositions and a scenic plot to create a harmonious whole.
The artistic direction, program and event management has been in the hands of Hans Köhl for over two decades. The Salzburg Advent Singing is a non-profit event organized by Kulturwerk Salzburg GmbH and is the second largest cultural event in the province of Salzburg after the Summer Festival.
History
On November 26, 1946, the Salzburger Heimatwerk was founded under the Glockenspiel by the Salzburg provincial government under the management of Tobi Reiser the Elder. On December 2, 1946, Tobias Reiser the Younger (1946-1999) was born and three days later, on December 5, 1946, Tobi Reiser the Elder (1907-1974) invited his friends and companions for the first time to a Salzburg Advent carol sing in the company home on Salzburg’s Rudolfskai.
After the Advent gathering became increasingly popular, it was moved to the Kaisersaal of the Salzburg Residence in 1950. For the first time, the Salzburger Heimatwerk and the Salzburger Heimatpflege officially invite people to this event. The broadcaster Christl Reisinger reads texts by Anette Thoma (1886-1974). Other contributors: Kleine Hackbrett-Musik, zither and guitar trio, fiddle and flute group Kammerer, Rudi Rehle, Saalfeldner Dreigesang, Viergesang Windhofer-Leitner, a Klöpflergruppe, the Sternsingerkinder, the Tanzperchtengruppe der Alpinia and the folk song choir Sepp Dengg. Choral singing with the Salzburg Folk Song Choir is still a defining element of the Salzburg Advent Festival today. At the same time, the first Advent carillon is blown from the Glockenspiel Tower as a prelude to Advent singing.
However, even this venue quickly becomes too small. In 1952, the event is moved to the Great Hall of Salzburg University. Karl Heinrich Waggerl (1897-1973) makes his debut and reads the “Little Christmas Stories” for the first time. His cheerful and contemplative readings delight the audience and give the Salzburg Advent Singing another unmistakable touch. He remained faithful to the Salzburg Advent Singing until shortly before his death in 1973. More and more people from all over the German-speaking world became aware of the Salzburg Advent Singing. The “Salzburg Advent Singing” became synonymous with numerous other events of a similar format.
In 1960, at the invitation of LH Dr. Josef Klaus (1910-2001), the Salzburg Advent Singing took place for the first time with seven performances in the newly built Grosses Salzburger Festspielhaus. Quite a few critics prophesied the end of Advent singing. The opposite is the case and Tobi Reiser’s courageous move has proved to be a stroke of luck. From year to year, more and more visitors come to this unique event. In 1974, the founder of the Salzburg Advent Singing and director of the Salzburg Heimatwerk Tobi Reiser the Elder died
Tobias Reiser the Younger takes over the management of the Salzburg Heimatwerk and the Salzburg Advent Singing. He endeavors to develop this valuable heritage responsibly and carefully. From 1980, major changes are made to the stage design, lighting direction and program with the involvement of stage designer Siegwulf Turek. The Salzburg Advent Singing developed into a scenic oratorio with impressive parallels and links between the biblical events and the present day. Tobias Reiser the Younger gives the Salzburg Advent Singing a new, artistically sophisticated profile. Under his direction, the Salzburg Advent Singing developed from 12 performances in 1974 to up to 18 sold-out performances annually. In 1996, the Salzburg Heimatwerk celebrated its 50th anniversary with the Salzburg Advent Singing. The scenic oratorio “Es ward der Engel Gabriel” with compositions by Wilhelm Keller became the highlight of the artistic work of Tobias Reiser the Younger, who died unexpectedly in 1999 at the age of 54.
Hans Köhl and Stefan Sperr, Tobias Reiser’s two long-time companions and Heimatwerk board colleagues, take over the management of the Salzburg Advent Singing, with Hans Köhl being given the main responsibility. Together with his artistic team, he will continue on the path of careful further development at a high level of quality. Ideas such as placing the Advent events in a socio-cultural context with the creators of the Salzburg Christmas carol “Silent Night, Holy Night” or, as this year, focusing on the Jewish history of the Holy Family, are brought to the stage every year in sophisticated, scenically and musically composed complete works and are enthusiastically received by the audience. However, this is an enormous challenge for Hans Köhl, his leading team and the 150 or so performers.
In 2022, the Salzburg Advent Singing will be spun off into the non-profit subsidiary of Salzburger Heimatwerk – Kulturwerk Salzburg GmbH. Johann (Hans) Köhl acts as managing director.
Despite the now countless “Advent Singings” throughout the German-speaking world, the influx to the Salzburg Advent Singing remains unbroken. Around 36,000 visitors every year, over two million guests since 1946. In 2022, the 1000th performance of the Salzburg Advent Singing since its foundation will take place. These figures speak for themselves and for the great popularity of this Salzburg cultural event.
Artistic direction
A life's work for three personalities
1946 – 1973
Tobi Reiser d. Ä.
1974 – 1999
Prof. Tobias Reiser d. J.
seit 2000
Johann (Hans) Köhl
