With tradition and provocation, the Austrian Alpine region of Salzkammergut officially opened the European Capital of Culture year 2024. In the former imperial holiday town of Bad Ischl, a thousand yodelers sang a modern version of this ancient singing technique, creating a floating cloud of sound in the open air, before switching to traditional yodelling.
The highlight of the opening was Tom Neuwirth alias Conchita Wurst, who comes from the Salzkammergut. Finally, choreographer Doris Uhlich and her ensemble presented a demanding nude performance in sub-zero temperatures.
Building bridges from the past to the future is the focus of the Salzkammergut 2024 project, which Bad Ischl is organizing together with 22 other municipalities near the border with Bavaria. “Together we want and will seize this opportunity to move forward and for the future,” said Bad Ischl Mayor Ines Schiller.
“Art and culture can counter hate and agitation a lot”
Vice Chancellor and Minister of Culture Werner Kogler (Greens) recalled that Emperor Franz Joseph signed the declaration of war against Serbia in Bad Ischl in 1914, which triggered the First World War and resulted in decades of violence. Democracy and freedom in Europe are also currently under attack. “Art and culture can counter hate and agitation a lot,” said Kogler.
Around 300 projects are planned in the Salzkammergut by the end of the year. Concerts, performances and exhibitions are intended not only to address the Salzkammergut’s Habsburg and Nazi past, but also to show solutions to current problems such as mass tourism, emigration and climate change.
In addition to the Salzkammergut, Tartu in Estonia and Bodø in Norway have the title of European Capital of Culture this year.
