The Magic Flute · 65 minutes to just over 2 hours
Mozart's opera in German with explanations in four languages, in a short or a full version.
Open the booking calendar ↗
Why it is worth an evening
Opera on a stage built for strings
Mozart without a singer in sight
On this stage the opera is played by marionettes: carved wooden figures hung from strings and worked by puppeteers standing above the stage. The music is recorded, which leaves your eyes free to follow Papageno, the Queen of the Night and the trials of Tamino and Pamina as small, precise actors.
A craft recognised in 2016
The theatre's technique rests on the Salzburg cross, a control Anton Aicher developed in 1913. In 2016 the Austrian UNESCO Commission recognised it as intangible cultural heritage and called it the most highly developed form of puppet and figure theatre.
A hall with a past
Since 1971 the company has played at Schwarzstraße 24, in a building that began in the 1890s as a restaurant and function rooms and later became a hotel. A large room of the old hotel became the auditorium, so you watch from a room built for guests, not for puppets.
Two shows, two languages
The Magic Flute is performed in German, with explanations projected beside the stage in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. The Sound of Music is performed in English. The tickets on this page are not suitable for children under 4.
What is on the programme
Which production fits your evening
The repertoire is seasonal, so the booking calendar decides which of these plays on your date. This is what each one is.
- I 2 h 10 min with interval
The Magic Flute, full opera
Mozart's two-act opera in German, with an interval after the first act and explanations projected in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. The set designs are by Günther Schneider-Siemssen, and the puppets and equipment come from the theatre's own workshops.
- II About 1 hour
The Magic Flute, short version
The same story in about an hour, in German with the same explanations. The theatre recommends it for adults and children from 8, which makes it the usual pick for families and for anyone short of time.
- III 1 h 45 min with interval
The Sound of Music
The Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, performed in English by marionettes. It follows the Broadway show rather than the 1965 film, so don't expect a scene-for-scene retelling.
- IV Seasonal
The Nutcracker and other seasonal shows
Tchaikovsky's ballet sits in the winter repertoire beside fairy tales and plays for younger audiences. Seasonal productions come and go, so check the calendar before you plan around one.
The theatre may make minor changes to the cast, the programme or the schedule, and only the calendar shows what is on for your date.
Figures, stage and house
Marionettes, stage and house
Photographs of the company's puppets on stage, in the foyer and on display, and of its home on Schwarzstraße. Some were taken at the company's stand at a trade fair.
The building and its rules
From Schwarzstraße to your seat
Six practical points about the building and the rules inside it.
- Where it is
- The theatre stands at Schwarzstraße 24, between the Landestheater and the International Mozarteum Foundation, close to the Salzach. The bus stop it names is Makartplatz.
- Your confirmation
- Your confirmation lists the production, the date and the start time. The theatre's terms say a ticket allows one entry and cannot be passed on or resold.
- What you will read
- The Magic Flute is performed in German, and explanations in English, French, Spanish and Chinese are projected on the wall near the stage. The Sound of Music is performed in English.
- Inside the hall
- The theatre's terms ban audio and video recording and bringing in or consuming food and drink in the venue. A cloakroom is available, and the theatre advises keeping valuables with you.
- Children
- The tickets on this page are not suitable for children under 4. For families, the theatre recommends the short Magic Flute for adults and children from 8.
- Access
- Visitors who need accessibility information are asked to phone the theatre. The number is on its contact page, and a call before booking lets you plan the visit.
The productions compared
The productions behind the two bookings
| Production | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| The Magic Flute · 65 minutes to just over 2 hours | Mozart's opera in German with explanations in four languages, in a short or a full version. | Opera lovers and families who want the classic marionette title. |
| The Sound of Music · about 1 hour 45 minutes | The Broadway musical performed in English with an interval, using the theatre's own marionettes. | Fans of the story who want English and a song-led evening. |
| Seasonal shows · varies | Winter productions such as The Nutcracker come and go with the repertoire, so only the calendar confirms a date. | Visitors in the colder months who want a particular title. |
| Booking terms | Both bookings here refund in full when cancelled 24 hours ahead, and both let you reserve now and pay later. | Travellers whose plans may still change. |
Compare versions and dates on the Magic Flute booking page ↗
Two ways into the theatre
The Magic Flute and The Sound of Music
Both bookings are for the Salzburg Marionette Theatre's own productions. The Magic Flute comes first because it is the title the company has performed most.
The Sound of Music · about 1 hour 45 minutes
The Broadway musical performed in English with an interval, using the theatre's own marionettes.
Open the booking calendar ↗More evenings in Salzburg
Dates, language and getting there
Plan the evening
Choose the date first
The repertoire is seasonal. Look up your date in the booking calendar to see which production plays and when it starts; your confirmation repeats both.
Choose the version
For The Magic Flute you pick a shorter or a full-length version when you book. The full opera has an interval, so allow a little over two hours.
Arrive in good time
A cloakroom is available, and the foyer is worth a look: its ceiling, with original stucco, was restored in the early 2000s. Late arrivals are not refunded for the part they miss.
Getting there
Take a bus to Makartplatz, the stop the theatre names, or walk from the centre. Public garages stand on Schwarzstraße itself, at numbers 19 and 33.
Keep cool
A few guests report that the hall gets warm in summer, so wear layers you can take off.
Eat first
Food and drink cannot be taken into the venue, so plan dinner before or after the performance.
Reading before you go
Reading before you go
Which show to book
Salzburg Marionette Theatre tickets
Magic Flute, Sound of Music or a seasonal show: how to choose a production, what the ticket covers and how booking here differs from the box office.
Open the guide → Getting there, language and the evening itselfVisit the Salzburg Marionette Theatre
Where the theatre is, how long each show runs, what the language and house rules mean for your evening and who should skip it, from the theatre's own pages.
Open the guide → The opera and its puppets
The Magic Flute on marionettes
The story, the characters and the staging of Mozart's opera as the Salzburg Marionette Theatre performs it, and what the puppets add to it.
Open the guide → The musical, performed in EnglishSound of Music marionette show
What the Salzburg Marionette Theatre's Sound of Music is, how it differs from the film, who it suits and what to expect from an English-language evening.
Open the guide → Strings, workshops and an Austrian UNESCO listingHow the Salzburg marionettes work
The Salzburg cross, the workshops where the figures are made and the 2016 Austrian UNESCO recognition of the technique, explained from primary sources.
Open the guide → Who enjoys it, and who won'tIs the marionette theatre worth it?
Who enjoys an evening at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre, who won't, what guests say about it and how it compares with other ways to spend an evening.
Open the guide →FAQ
What visitors ask before booking
How long is The Magic Flute at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre?
The full opera runs 2 hours 10 minutes, including an interval after the first act. A short version of about an hour is also performed, and you choose the version when you book.
Will I follow the show in English?
The Sound of Music is performed in English. The Magic Flute is performed in German, with explanations projected beside the stage in English, French, Spanish and Chinese.
Is the theatre suitable for children?
For most ages, yes. These tickets are not suitable for children under 4, and the theatre recommends the short Magic Flute for adults and children from 8.
Is the music live?
No. The company's soundtracks are recorded, and the live part is the puppeteers working each figure on its strings.
Are cameras or snacks allowed in the hall?
No. The theatre's terms ban audio and video recording and bringing in or consuming food and drink in the venue. A cloakroom is available.
Is every production on every date?
No. The repertoire is seasonal and the winter programme differs from the rest of the year, so only the booking calendar tells you which show plays on your date.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
Cancel through GetYourGuide until 24 hours before and you are refunded in full. Tickets bought directly from the theatre follow its own terms, which give no right of withdrawal for dated tickets.
What makes this theatre special?
Its puppeteering technique, built around the Salzburg cross, was recognised in 2016 by the Austrian UNESCO Commission as the most highly developed form of puppet and figure theatre.
Mozart's opera and The Sound of Music, performed by hand-carved marionettes.
Book the Marionette Theatre ↗Fares move with the date, the group size and the version. Your own currency is applied on the booking page before payment.