ATTERGAU CULTURAL SUMMER
11 July to 15 August 2025
Founded in 1981, the Attergauer Kultursommer has established itself as one of the most attractive and successful festivals far beyond Austria's borders over the course of its 30 years of existence.
On 1 August 1981, members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra played as part of a benefit concert for the new organ in St. Georgen im Attergau, laying the foundation for Upper Austria's oldest summer festival.
Nearby Salzburg attracts artists and culture enthusiasts alike in summer, many of whom have settled temporarily or permanently in the beautiful Attergau region, which invites you to holiday, relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape from mountain to lake.
Every year, the Attergau Summer of Culture offers a first-class cultural programme - designed to combine the highest artistic quality with summery informality and a friendly atmosphere.
The Attergauer Kultursommer has been an integral part of cultural life in Upper Austria for many years. World music, great classical music and great opera, Viennese melancholy and wild crossover - presented in the highest artistic quality. Mechthild Bartolomey is behind it all. We met her for an interview:
1. "Ms Bartolomey, what was particularly important to you when designing the artistic programme for the Attergau Summer of Culture 2025 - was there a central concern?"
As every year, the colourful diversity of our programmes is important to me, and this is something our audience really appreciates. We have ATTERGAU CULTURE - THE ART OF DIVERSITY in our title. I think we have succeeded in doing this again this summer.
2. "The Attergau Cultural Summer has a long tradition. How do you manage to preserve this tradition and at the same time provide new impetus?"
Tradition also means commitment! The Attergau Summer of Culture was founded in 1981 as a classical music festival. Classical music still forms the basis of my programming today. Genuine folk music is very important to me and I am particularly pleased when new young groups bring it into the present day, as the unique group GANES from a mountain village in the South Tyrolean Dolomites will do this summer. On the other hand, the Philharmonia Schrammeln will play the original version of the classic Viennese song and CROSSNOVA will bring it into the present in a very sophisticated way.
3. "What role does the regional connection play - both in the selection of artists and in the programme design?"
I try to make a connection to Upper Austria every yearin the programmein the programme. In the Bruckner anniversary year 2024, for example, we dedicated three concerts exclusively to Bruckner's music, I commissioned the Upper Austrian composer Helmut Schmidinger with a new composition for the second time, and Upper Austrian artists such as Birgit Minichmayr, Christoph Traxler, Benedict Mitterbauer and many others regularly perform at the Kultursommer.
4. "Which programme items or artists are particularly close to your heart in this year's edition - and why?"
Of course, every programme is my favourite. I have the great privilege of being able to realise my own programme ideas at Kultursommer. This summer, I'm particularly looking forward to GANES, a "family band" from South Tyrol, who are revitalising their lively Ladin cultural heritage and taking it out into the world. An evening not to be missed!
5. "What are your personal wishes for the future of the Attergau Cultural Summer - especially with regard to audiences, new talent and collaborations?"
The Attergauer Kultursommer has a wonderful audience! I would like and hope to inspire young people more and more with my programmes: music simply enriches life, culture broadens the intellectual horizon, always allows new things to be discovered and is a place of encounters and social contacts, especially in rural areas.
