Mozarteum

Mozarteum Review

Two institutions share the address in this building finished just before World War I—the International Foundation Mozarteum, set up in 1870, and the University of Music and Performing Arts, founded in 1880. Scholars come here to research in the Bibliotheca Mozartiana, the world's largest Mozart library (for research only and therefore not open to public). The Mozarteum also organizes the annual Mozart Week festival in January. Many important concerts are offered from October to June in its two recital halls, the Grosser Saal (Great Hall) and the Wiener Saal (Vienna Hall).

Behind the Mozarteum, sheltered by the trees of the Bastiongarten, is the famous Zauberflötenhäuschen —the little summerhouse where Mozart composed parts of The Magic Flute, with the encouragement of his frantic librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, who finally wound up locking the composer inside to force him to complete his work. The house was donated to the Mozarteum by Prince Starhemberg. It is much restored: back in the 19th century, the faithful used to visit it and snatch shingles off its roof. The house can generally be viewed only when concerts are offered in the adjacent Grosser Saal.