Salzburg Festival and Marina Davydova Reach Agreement After Sudden Dismissal

The theater director and festival organizers avoid legal conflict, agreeing to end their collaboration while maintaining differing legal positions.

Marina Davydova and the Salzburg Festival have agreed to part ways without pursuing a legal dispute, following her unexpected dismissal in November.
The festival cited violations of contractual obligations, including Davydova's involvement with a Berlin theater festival, as the reason for her termination.
Davydova's lawyer argued her Berlin role was unpaid and did not conflict with her Salzburg duties, but the festival maintained its stance on the breach of contract.
Despite her dismissal, the festival will implement Davydova's artistic concept for the 2025 summer season, acknowledging her contributions to the 2024 and 2025 programs.
Davydova, a Russian director who fled her homeland after the invasion of Ukraine, was initially appointed to bring an international focus to Salzburg's theater programming.