Top 10 Incredible Facts about Mozarthaus, Vienna

Mozarthaus. Photo by Dr Murali Mohan Gurram. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Incredible Facts about Mozarthaus, Vienna

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s only surviving Viennese residence as from 1784 to 1787, a period of just three years and which now is a museum is  Mozarthaus located in Domgasse in Vienna.

The Mozarthaus was built in the 17th century, originally with two floors but in 1716 it was redeveloped.

In 2006, the Mozarthaus was renovated in a public private partnership (PPP)  between the city of Vienna and Wien Holding and was subsequently converted into a Museum.

The top 10 incredible facts about Mozarthaus, Vienna include the following.

1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lived in The Mozarthaus for Three Years

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Photo by Not sure. Wikimedia Commons

Widely recognized as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music, the Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart rented rooms in the Mozarthaus.

Mozart rented rooms in the house which is located on Domgasse in Vienna for a period of about three years as from 1784 to 1787.

By the time Mozart rented the house, it was called Camesina House. The house was named after a family which as far back as 1720 had lived in the house.

2. Built in the 17^th Century, The Mozarthaus Was Renovated in 1716 and 2006

Mozarthaus Vienna. Photo by Joseolgon. Wikimedia Commons

The Mozarthaus which was redeveloped in 1716 was built in the 17^th century originally with two floors.

Wien Holding was commissioned by the city of Vienna to renovate Mozarthaus and establish a new Mozart center around Mozart’s apartment in a public private partnership agreement.

The company did the renovation  and completed in time for Mozart’s 250^th anniversary of his birth in 2006.

3. Mozart’s Former Rooms Were First Opened to The Public in 1941

Vienna Museum.Photo by Manfred Werner / Tsui. Wikimedia Commons

In 1941 during the 150th anniversary of Mozart’s death, his former rooms in the Mozarthaus were first opened to the public as part of “Imperial German Mozart Week”.

Even though Mozart was known to lead a polyglot lifestyle, the “Imperial German Mozart Week” was intended to honor him as a “typically German” composer in the national socialist event.

The Vienna Museum took over the running of the exhibition in 1945.

4. After Refurbishment, the Entire Mozarthaus Was Dedicated to Mozart’s Life and Work

The entire building including the expanded basement became a center dedicated to Mozart’s life and work after the refurbishment was completed in 2006.

The entire house including all the rooms which Mozart rented and lived with his family were dedicated to his work and life and Vienna Museum oversaw the process.

A combination of historical exhibits and audio-visual installations are today used in the Mozarthaus to presents information about the composer.

5. The 2006 Refurbishment Changed the Original Design of Mozarthaus

Domgasse. Photo by Gugerell. Wikimedia Commons

The installation of an elevator during the refurbishment of 2006 essentially destroyed the design of the historical courtyard.

During that refurbishment the original oak door of Mozart’s apartment was varnished and relocated and the original 17^th century stone floor of the kitchen was removed.

The house has to be entered today from its rear in the Domgasse as the original entrance of the house facing the Schulerstraße i.e. the one Mozart used was walled up to make room for a shop.

The European Union co-financed an events hall at the basement of the Mozarthaus. In its first three years after being open to the public, a total of 340,000 people visited the Mozarthaus museum.

6. Mozarthaus Vienna Is an Established Component of the Vienna Museum Scene

Andreas Mailath-Pokorny. Photo by Tsui. Wikimedia Commons

Mozarthaus is one of the most sustained projects since it was opened to the public in 2006, the year of the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth.

Over 1.6 million people have visited Mozarthaus since it was opened in 2006 making the concept of refurbishing, remodeling and renovating worth the effort and amount invested.

Over one hundred artists and music not including rentals and cooperative events have used or been played in the historical Bösendorfer Room which provides an intimate setting for such activities.

Various aspects of Mozart’s life and those connected with him have been staged in the Mozarthaus in a dozen or so exhibitions for visitors to see.

Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, executive city councillor for cultural affairs, disclosed in a recent interview that Mozarthaus Vienna is an established component of the Vienna museum scene.

7. Mozarthaus Is Important in Austrian and International Classical Music

The importance of Mozarthaus Vienna for the Austrian and international classical music scene was confirmed by the numerous collaborations in recent years.

The International Beaumarchais Competition, a singing competition initiated by Mozarthaus Vienna and the Vienna State Opera is one such cooperation. 

The special exhibitions in cooperation with the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, such as “Antonio Salieri: The Facts” or “Christoph Willibald Gluck: 300th Anniversary” is yet another collaboration.

Mozarthaus Vienna has also been able to borrow and display fascinating objects such as Mozart’s original fortepiano in autumn 2012 in cooperation with the Mozarteum Salzburg Foundation.

Mozarthaus Vienna went on tour in Japan in 2014, reaching an international audience of millions at the invitation of the media group Yomiuri.

8. Mozarthaus Vienna Was Awarded the State Prize for Multimedia and E-Business

After renovations in 2006, Mozarthaus Vienna introduced special programmes to communicate culture to children and adolescents.

Mozarthaus added a special audio guide for children which has since seen over 7,000 children and adolescents visit since 2006.

Mozarthaus attracted 176,308 visitors in 2016; a record result surpassed only in 2006, the year Mozarthaus was opened to the public. 

Visitors from Germany, France, the USA, Italy, Spain, Japan and, increasingly, Korea accounted for 85 percent of all visitors to Mozarthaus in 2016.

9. The Mozarthaus Museum Is Financially Viable

One of the most ambitious cultural projects undertaken by Wien Holding’s is the Mozarthaus Vienna project.

Apart from adults, Mozarthaus is popular with school going children. Guided tours for children and school classes to Mozart quizzes and creative Mozart-themed competitions are offered at the Mozarthaus.

According to Wien Holding director Peter Hanke, around 75 per cent of Mozarthaus costs are covered through revenue from ticket sales, the shop, catering and rentals which is well above the average for most other museums in Austria.

The Mozarthaus museum is therefore financially viable.

10. By Visiting Mozarthaus Visitors Experience the World of Mozart

A comprehensive presentation of Mozart’s main works and time in which he lived is displayed and presented to the composer’s fans in the Mozarthaus.

Nowhere else did Mozart write as much music as he did while living in the Mozarthaus.

Of particular focus in the composer’s life are the years he lived in the Mozarthaus as its during that time that he reached the peak of his creativity.

Visitors are offered an insight into many aspects of Mozart’s life and works in the four floors of Mozarthaus Vienna.

The Mozart apartment which is the centerpiece of Mozarthaus, is the composer’s only surviving apartment in Vienna which was curated by Wien Museum and is a global memorial of the composer.

Some prominent Mozart fans who range from Madonna and John Kerry to The Eagles have visited Mozarthaus.