Founded by composer Richard Strauss, poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal, and art director Max Reinhardt, the Salzburg Festival was born on August 22, 1920. Visitors from 81 countries gather every summer to enjoy the performances in the numerous concert halls and theaters. The historic city of Salzburg provides the breathtaking backdrop to the greatest and most important festival in the world‚ and it is the renowned birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
We would also like to honour the memory of the late Donald Khan who sponsored and hosted the first Amadeus Weekend with me in 2003, when we were fortunate enough to have as our guest of honour the then Prince of Wales, now His Majesty King Charles III. Donald Kahn was not only a renowned and generous philanthropist, but also a Senator of the University of Salzburg, where he helped to rebuild the “ Grosse Aula” and he was also participating in the reconstruction of ‘the new House of Mozart’.