Rossinimania, Vienna 1822

Curator: Herbert Lachmayer
Organizer: DA PONTE Research Center Vienna

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Ludwig van Beethoven gave the 30-year-old Gioachino Rossini a useful piece of fatherly advice: “Ah, Rossini. So you‘re the composer of The Barber of Seville. I congratulate you. It will be played as long as Italian opera exists. Never try to write anything else but opera buffa; any other style would do violence to your nature.” The freshly married Maestro Rossini had just arrived in Vienna and along with his opera “Zelmira” he brought his wife Isabella Colbran with him to the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Responding to an invitation by Domenico Barbaia, impresario of the Viennese “Kärntnertortheater” the new arrival from Naples thrust the Viennese audiences into a frenzy of excitement – after all, opera buffa, the secret desire of the city’s music lovers could not have been better quenched than by the works of the Master from Pesaro. Naturally, the Viennese already knew Rossini’s works, but his presence in person in the city unleashed a veritable Rossinimania: La Cenerentola, La gazza ladra and his latest opera, Zelmira, hit right into the middle of their enraptured hearts. Antonio Salieri, Carl Maria von Weber and most probably Ludwig van Beethoven met up with Rossini during his stay in Vienna.With a number of original objects, multimedia imagery and a “hermeneutic wallpaper” this exhibition retraces the story of Rossini’s visit to Vienna, which after all is also a piece of opera history.

Duration of the Exhibition
Thursday, June 5 – Friday, June 27, 2014

Opening Hours
Daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
During the Whitsun Festival (June 5-9) 10:00 am to 7:30 pm

Venue
Exhibition space at the Schüttkasten (Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz 11, 5020 Salzburg).
The exhibition space has barrier-free access.

Admission free!

Free guided tours for school classes (from 10 years or Grade 5 up) and groups of students require registration:
Wednesday, June 11 – Friday, June 27, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (except public holidays)
Registration and further information via jugend@salzburgfestival.at