Salzburg Festival Performance Explores Peter Handke's Introspective Prose

At the Salzburg Festival, a performance draws inspiration from Peter Handke's 2025 prose work, 'Schnee von gestern, Schnee von morgen' (Snow from Yesterday, Snow from Tomorrow). The play delves into the psyche of a man, characterized by Handke as a 'cross-and-quer-walker' (Kreuz-und-Quer-Gehender), who embarks on a journey to comprehend his own identity and the path that led him to become who he is.

Actor Jens Harzer, in a gesture of profound introspection, turns his suit pocket inside out on stage, revealing its emptiness. This act can be interpreted as a declaration of bankruptcy, signifying a complete lack of possessions. Alternatively, it might convey a sense of pride and freedom, a readiness to start anew. The performance visually encapsulates the character's internal struggle and his quest for self-discovery.

The prose text itself is challenging to summarize, but it centers on a man questioning his existence. He interrogates himself, pondering his origins and purpose: "Why was I born? To be a chimney sweep? A dancer? A connector of left and right? A hazel stick carver? A blind guide? (...) Heavens, how did I become a loner?" This internal monologue highlights the character's deep-seated need to understand his solitary nature and the choices that have shaped his life.

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Why was I born? To be a chimney sweep? A dancer? A connector of left and right? A hazel stick carver? A blind guide? (...) Heavens, how did I become a loner?