The Haus für Mozart, or House for Mozart, is a 1,500-seat theatre of the

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival (german: Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer (for five weeks starting in late July) in the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Ama ...

in the city of that name in

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

. It was established in 1925 when horse stables were converted into a venue for the

mystery plays Mystery plays and miracle plays (they are distinguished as two different forms although the terms are often used interchangeably) are among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval mystery plays focused on the represen ...

that were a main facet of the five-year-old festival, becoming the festival's first dedicated performance space, its Festspielhaus. This name it retained through three rebuildings until, in 1960, the larger Neues Festspielhaus opened next door, whereupon it took the name Altes Festspielhaus, or Old Festival-House. But three seasons later, to end confusion in the minds of visitors unaware of the history, both theatres were renamed for their sizes, and the smaller was now the Kleines Festspielhaus. For forty-two seasons, through 2004, the nomenclature was settled. Then the theater was closed for its fourth gutting and reconstruction. It gained its current name upon reopening in 2006 as the festival's principal theatre for Mozart and Rossini operas as well as Baroque stageworks.

History

The venue was inaugurated with

Hugo von Hofmannsthal Hugo Laurenz August Hofmann von Hofmannsthal (; 1 February 1874 – 15 July 1929) was an Austrian novelist, librettist, poet, dramatist, narrator, and essayist. Early life Hofmannsthal was born in Landstraße, Vienna, the son of an upper-cl ...

's play ''Das Salzburger große Welttheater'' directed by

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born theatre and film director, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his innovative stage productions, he is regarded as one of the most pro ...

. But there were prompt changes. After the first season (1925) it was rebuilt under the direction of

Clemens Holzmeister Clemens Holzmeister (27 March 1886 – 12 June 1983) was a prominent Austrian architect and stage designer of the early twentieth century. The Austrian Academy of Fine Arts listed his life's work as containing 673 projects. He was the father of ...

, and after the Nazi annexation of Austria (1938) it was rebuilt again by

Benno von Arent Benno von Arent (19 July 1898 – 14 October 1956) was a German film director, artist, architect, designer and a member of the Nazi Party and SS. Early life Arent was born Benno Georg Eduard Wilhelm Joachim von Arent in Görlitz on 19 July 1 ...

. A third reconstruction, by Salzburg architects Hans Hofmann and Erich Engels, took place after the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

Dedication to Mozart

In anticipation of Salzburg-born Mozart's 250th anniversary in 2006, local politicians led by Landeshauptmann Franz Schausberger reached a financial agreement with the Republic of Austria to modernize and technically upgrade the theater. Architects Wilhelm Holzbauer, a pupil of Holzmeister, and the Luxembourger François Valentiny drew up the plans, which included structural changes to the lobby area between the

Felsenreitschule The Felsenreitschule (literally "rock riding school") is a theatre in Salzburg, Austria and a venue of the Salzburg Festival. History A first Baroque theatre was erected in 1693–94 at the behest of the Salzburg prince-archbishop Johann Ernst vo ...

, another venue, and what would become the Haus für Mozart. Three new entrances were designed by the artist Josef Zenzmaier, and a golden art-wall in the foyer was created by the German

Michael Hammers Michael Hammers (born 1 August 1965 in Aachen, West Germany) is a German artist and designer. Life Upon passing his school leaving exams, Michael Hammers began his professional career as a blacksmith. He apprenticed in several workshops and s ...

. The changes reconfigured the theatre to host 1,580 people: 1,495 seats and 85 stances (standing places). Mozart's opera ''Le nozze di Figaro'' conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt inaugurated the new space. File:Bühne Haus für Mozart Salzburg.jpg, The stage File:Haus für Mozart Zuschauerraum Parkett und Ränge 1.jpg, The auditorium File:Goldene Wand.jpg, Golden Wall File:Salzburg Kollegienkirche Festung Festspielhaus.jpg, Kollegienkirche and House for Mozart

Trivia

The front was used as the luxury hotel ''Nouveau Rothschild'' in the action movie ''

Knight and Day ''Knight and Day'' is a 2010 American satirical action comedy film directed by James Mangold and starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. The film was the second on-screen collaboration of Cruise and Diaz, following the 2001 film ''Vanilla Sky''. ...

'' with

Cameron Diaz Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress. With a variety of works in film, she is widely recognised for her work in romantic comedies and animation. Diaz has received various accolades, including nominations for ...

and

Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962), known professionally as Tom Cruise, is an American actor and producer. One of the world's highest-paid actors, he has received various accolades, including an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Go ...

References

External links

Salzburger Festspiele
{{Authority control Theatres in Salzburg Buildings and structures in Salzburg Festspielhaus, Kleines Clemens Holzmeister buildings and structures

History

Dedication to Mozart

Trivia

See also

References

External links