Rolando Villazón (*1972) is probably one of the most spirited opera singers and directors of our time. The Mexican-born singer became known to a worldwide audience in 2005 with his role as Alfredo Germont alongside Anna Netrebko in "La traviata" at the Salzburg Festival.The tenor began his international career in 1999 with his European debut in Genoa as Des Grieux in Jules Massenet’s Manon. This was followed by further successful performances at some of the world’s great opera houses, including the Opéra Bastille Paris, the Bavarian State Opera, the Vienna State Opera and the New York Met. His roles include classics such as Rodolfo (La Bohème), Alfredo (La traviata), Roméo (Roméo et Juliette) and Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor).After vocal cord problems and a corresponding operation, Villazón returned to the stage in March 2010 and debuted as an opera director at the Opéra de Lyon one year later with a production of Jules Massenet’s Werther. The versatile artist, who is also active as a writer and presenter, has been the artistic director of the Mozartwoche Salzburg since 2017.Rolando Villazón has had French citizenship since 2007, is married and has two sons.

Maestro Franz Welser-Möst, born in Linz in 1960, has now been working in the U.S. for almost 20 years as chief conductor and music director of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has never lost his ties to his home country of beautiful (Upper) Austria however. So he makes stops in Austria with his orchestra on world tours, but he also has a close partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He performs worldwide, but also at the legendary New Year’s Concert at the Vienna Musikverein. In addition, he is a summer guest at the traditional Salzburg Festival, performing concert repertoire as well as exciting opera literature. In 2018, for example, the performance of Strauss` ´Salome` with a magnificent Asmik Grigorian caused quite a stir.On his 60th birthday, Welser-Möst published his book ´Als ich die Stille fand` (´When I Found Silence`), which provides more intimate insights into his own sometimes bumpy path through life and conducting, about nature and soul, and which also criticizes the classical music scene, which in some cases ´sells out`.