Otto Schenk, an actor who became a noted director praised for traditional opera productions and criticized by advocates of contemporary approaches, died Thursday.

Offbeat operas have been some of the Salzburg Festival’s best in recent years, the latest a colorful, outlandish and entertaining staging of Sergei Prokofiev’s “The Gambler” by director Peter Sellars.

While many classical music institutions are struggling to regain audience, the Salzburg Festival in Mozart's hometown is on track to draw people from over 75 nations to opera, concerts and drama.