Salzburg Festival: history and repertoire, 1922–1926 Mozart for the first season — the three Da Ponte operas and "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" [The Abduction from the Seraglio]. In the founding years the festival did not have the means to produce entire opera productions. So Strauss and Schalk brought the settings, the singers, the orchestra and the chorus from Vienna State Opera to Salzburg. The press critically noted that the opera program of the festival constituted ″the summer residence of Vienna State Opera″. Nevertheless, the performances were superb due to the orchestra, the chorus and the great singers. They came from all over Europa and created
Celena Shafer 2004–05 season, she debuted with the New York Philharmonic in a performance of Handel's "Messiah". In April 2005, she sang the title role of "Esclarmonde" at the Washington Concert Opera. Other roles include Tytania in "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Nanetta in "Falstaff", Hero in Berlioz's "Beatrice and Benedict", Zerbinetta in a concert performance of "Ariadne auf Naxos", Blonde in "The Abduction from the Seraglio", Adele in "Die Fledermaus", and "Show Boat" for a gala benefit for Carnegie Hall. Celena Shafer Celena Shafer is an American soprano, born c. 1975 in Centerville, Utah. At age 17, Shafer won a vocal competition