Oberender to Stay as Director of Salzburg Festival

Thomas Oberender will not step down as Director of the Salzburg Festival as previously announced. Oberender claimed creative differences for his early departure and said the last 3 seasons were “the most painful time of my life”. He told the AP that disagreements and personal conflicts with management led to his early departure. Ulla Kalchmair, the Festival spokeswoman, said that Oberender would stay on, and in an email, that his contract would be reinstated thru 2011.