culture
Music theatre with international appeal
Tiroler Festspiele Erl
When the sun sets behind the Kaiser Mountains in summer and the first notes resonate from the festival hall, it becomes clear why the Tiroler Festspiele Erl are considered one of Austria’s most distinctive music festivals. Since 1997, the festival has combined outstanding musical performances with an Alpine setting, attracting opera enthusiasts from around the world to the small Tyrolean village of Erl.
The programme is ambitious, ranging from works by Mozart and Verdi to contemporary productions, chamber concerts and educational formats. Performances take place three times a year – during the summer and winter seasons, as well as at Easter. Since 2024, the festival’s artistic direction has been shaped by renowned tenor Jonas Kaufmann as artistic director, with a clear focus on the highest musical quality without elitist pretensions.
Two exceptional venues
Visible from afar, the two striking venues shape the character of Erl.
The Festspielhaus Erl, designed by the Vienna-based firm Delugan Meissl Architects, is an architectural statement. Its black, cubic façade forms a deliberate contrast to the surrounding mountain landscape and houses one of Austria’s acoustically finest concert halls.
Directly adjacent stands the Passionsspielhaus Erl, which has been a landmark of the community since 1959. The simple timber structure, with its open and inviting atmosphere, provides a distinctive setting for music theatre. What both venues share is exceptional acoustics and an atmosphere that allows music to be experienced with particular intensity.
14 kilometres from Kufstein – and yet a different world
Erl is just a 15-minute drive from Kufstein. Only around 14 kilometres separate you from a distinctive cultural experience in the Tyrolean lowlands. Our reception team will be happy to assist you with any questions regarding travel arrangements, tickets and your visit to an event.