Martin Kušej is one of the most famous theatre directors of our time, one of the founders of what he calls radical stage direction. His productions are direct and provocative, harsh, and sometimes cruel, and full of the lyricism of decline. He says things that both directors and critics are used to keeping silent about. You won’t find the usual illusions and conventions in his productions. Old familiar plots look completely different: if there is a war on stage, then there are no shining armor nor jubilant crowds, if there is a love story, then there are no sighs under the moon and tender glances.

Kušey's productions are always a challenge to both the theatre and the audience. And in Salzburg they are one of the calling cards of the 21st century festival. The famous conceptual Don Giovanni (the Salzburg debut of the young Anna Netrebko); Tosca from An der Wien, which turned summer Rome into a snowy plain; the harsh and piercing La Clemenza di Tito with a whole galaxy of stars, which became the center of attraction of the festival for many years. And La Forza del Destino (2013) is one of the first performances where the famous duet of Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier began. 

Perhaps Martin Kušey is just showing the audience... themselves and the honest world around them. His performances are like a mirror: it's scary to look into, but you can't look away!