<<  -- 4 --  Tess Crebbin    MOZART MATINEES

Thomas Hampson, baritone-star with a special love for Salzburg, will make three appearances, to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary year of the death of Dvorák: a Liederabend with Wolfram Rieger on 13 August, with Lieder by Dvorák, Brahms and others. This will be followed on 17 August by a Dvorák memorial concert titled 'Dvorák and his time', for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass and piano. This concert was also conceptualised by Hampson. Rieger, again, will be at the piano and Barbara Bonney is the soprano. On 28 and 29 August, Hampson will be on stage with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, for another Dvorák evening. The programme includes Dvorák's Der Wassermann (Op 107), Biblical Songs (Op 99) and eight Slavic Dances (Op 72).

Waltraut Meier, taking a break from opera, will be in Salzburg for a recital, singing Lieder by Brahms, Wolf and Schubert on 20 August, accompanied on the piano by Nicholas Carthy. And, last but not least, German baritone Thomas Quasthoff sings Lieder by Schubert, Loewe (1796-1869), Wolf and Brahms.

The Salzburg Festival is notorious for tickets being sold out by the end of March, but this year, a very few individual tickets are still available on the festival website's booking section for some select performances. The full programme of this year's festival, plus further information, is also available on the Salzburg Festival website: www.salzburgfestival.at

Those who wish to get involved with the festival more in-depth have the option of joining the 'Society of Friends of the Salzburg Festival'. For an annual donation of 900 euros, patrons receive priority ticket allocation, a patron's card and access to the patron's lounge, The Salzburg Festival Friend's Magazine, and invitations to special rehearsals. For contact information: Friends of the Salzburg Festival, Monechsberg 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. Phone: +43 662 8045 284. Email: office AT festspielfreunde dot at. There is also the option of becoming a club member, through the development department of the Salzburg Festival. Prices are steep, with 10,000 euros for silver club membership and 50,000 euros to join the gold club. But there are rewards: exclusive club dinners, encounters with board members and performers, and many special events to promise great enjoyment. Further information on club membership can be obtained by emailing the development office: development at salzburgfestival DOT at.

Every year, the Salzburg Festival offers specially priced tickets for young people. These are priced between 15 and 22 euros and can be obtained via registering interest in advance: info AT salzburgfestival dot at. To further interest young people in the wonders of classical music, the festival has the international Young Friends Association, providing workshops and performances. Information can be obtained via email: jungefreunde at salzburgfestival DOT at

There is also the option of joining one of the eight different subscription series, which offer performances, on five consecutive days, at a ten percent discount. Every year, subscription orders are given priority before general booking opens.