Step into the world of The Sound of Music this October
This October, Salzburg Global invites guests to step into the timeless world of The Sound of Music with The Captain’s Ball. Hosted in Schloss Leopoldskron – both Salzburg Global’s programmatic home and the von Trapp family home on screen, The Captain’s Ball is a fundraiser for the conservation and development of the property and its grounds.
For millions around the globe — particularly in the United States — The Sound of Music has shaped how Austria is imagined: majestic landscapes, music woven into daily life, traditions alive with joy, and a spirit of resilience. While the film was once little-known in Austria, today its cultural legacy is embraced as a unique form of soft power. From Broadway stages and Hollywood Bowl sing-alongs to a viral flash mob in Antwerp and non-stop tours in Salzburg, the story of Maria and the von Trapp family continues to inspire new generations.
The Captain’s Ball will bring that story to life in the very setting where it began. Under the creative direction of award-winning Austrian theater director Markus Kupferblum, the evening will be an immersive tribute to the story’s magic. Guests will enjoy live performances, a seated dinner of elevated Austrian cuisine, ballroom dancing, and theatrical moments unfolding throughout the palace’s grand salons. The creative team includes Hans Kudlich, Stage Designer and Manager; musical ensemble Die Tanzgeiger; Ceili O’Connor as Maria; and Alan Burgon as Captain von Trapp.
The Ball caps a three-day program of festivities in Salzburg. On October 23, the Felsenreitschule will host The Sound of Music Gala: Salzburg & The World, with performances by the Salzburg State Theatre and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. The following day, a symposium will consider the film’s cultural impact and whether it remains alive in Salzburg’s identity. Guests will also have the chance to learn the waltz and Ländler, recalling the film’s ballroom scenes.
Why does this anniversary matter? Because The Sound of Music is more than nostalgia. It represents an enduring image of Austria — a love letter in song and story that continues to draw visitors, connect cultures, and embody the universal longing for freedom, dignity, and joy. Its sweeping alpine vistas may have introduced Austria to the world, but the country’s cultural riches, from Mozart’s music to Vienna’s coffeehouses, ensure that reality surpasses even the dream.
On Saturday, October 25, as the music rises and guests waltz across the ballroom of Schloss Leopoldskron, the spirit of The Sound of Music will come alive once more — not only as a cherished film but as a living tradition that still inspires the world to climb every mountain.
Visit The Captain’s Ball webpage to register for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration or contact development@salzburgglobal.org to learn more.
