Symphonic Tribute To The Beatles In Obertauern
Obertauern celebrated 60 years of filming the Beatles movie “Help” with a symphonic anniversary concert featuring Monika Ballwein and the Salzburg Philharmonic as the highlight – and is looking forward to enough snow for the rest of the season.
60 years ago, in March 1965, Obertauern was not a particularly well-known ski resort like it is today – but that was about to change. On March 14, 1965, the first shot was taken on the Beatles film "Help", and this made the town on the Salzburg pass famous around the world. " Obertauern was suddenly on everyone's lips ," remembers Herbert Lürzer (82), who was just starting out in his career as a successful hotelier and who, during filming, doubled for Paul McCartney on skis - alongside three other locals who impersonated the other Beatles on skis. " It was a great time back then ," recalled Lürzer in an interview with Ski Guide Austria. Like his three colleagues, Lürzer also witnessed the only concert the Fab Four ever played in Austria - in the bar of the Hotel Marietta, where the film crew was staying and celebrating a birthday party on March 18.
Throughout March 2025, Obertauern celebrated a series of events commemorating this extraordinary time and this special anniversary. This included an exhibition of original photographs taken by Austrian photographer Christian Skrein, then just 19 years old, of the Beatles, from their arrival at Salzburg Airport to the filming in the snow-covered ski resort. There were also performances by cover bands, and on March 28, the highlight was a symphonic anniversary concert with Monika Ballwein and the Salzburg Philharmonic. Vocal prodigy Ballwein and the orchestra, conducted by Elisabeth Fuchs, revived the Beatles' greatest hits – from Elenor Rigby, "Get Back," "Something," and "The Long and Winding Road," to "Let It Be" and "Yesterday." Against a magnificent, wintry open-air backdrop, the event's enthralling open-air atmosphere was a celebration of the Beatles' greatest hits. Several hundred guests, as well as local hoteliers and their families, were rightly thrilled by the musical performances—including former McCartney impersonator Herbert Lürzer, ÖHV President Walter Veit, and Tourism Director Mario Siedler. The motto: The Salzburg ski resort is not just about sports and partying, but also culture.
Today, the Beatles still roam Obertauern, says Lürzer. " Many guests book a room at the Hotel Edelweiss where one of the Fab Four once stayed. " The four special rooms (Nos. 214, 216, 218, and 219) are also marked with the name of the Beatle who stayed there—so you can be sure to get your favorite room. The community is also aware of the Beatles' lasting impact on tourism: " The advertising effect of the Help filming was enormous. It was a catalyst for winter tourism in Obertauern ," says Lukas Eisl, marketing director of the tourist association. " From that point on, we were known beyond Salzburg, and everyone knew that there was great snow here, even in March. " The Beatles and Help are a unique selling point that other resorts don't have: " This is a special theme for guests, which, given the continued high level of interest, is also reflected in the bookings ."
Beatles Exhibition I © Günter Fritz
The exhibition of Christian Skrein's unique photographs, which provide a vivid and up-close look at the 1960s, can be visited free of charge at the Obertauern Tourist Board building during regular opening hours until April 27, 2025. This is as long as you can enjoy the Tauernrunde—partial operation of the ski area continues until May 1—in this particularly snow-sure ski area.
