Ardavan Taheri/Radio Koocheh
a.taheri@koochehmail.com
Translated by Avideh Motmaen-Far
avideh@avideh.net
Once again, I accompany you in Vienna carried by imagination wings. We find our way through the Koocheh Mahtabi, to the world’s music capital; the capital where the classical music resonance highlights its fame for the music lovers of all over the world. In vienna, there are several houses, small museums, opera and concert halls around the city that reminds us of the exciting era of classical music celebrities and their art making.
The Building of The Opera of Vienna in its early days
Maybe one of the buildings that only standing in front of it, reminds you of the symphonies, of “Mozart” (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
and “Beethoven” (Ludwig van Beethoven) or waltz of ”Johann Strauß” and ”Joseph Lanner” or the operas of ”Giuseppe Verdi” and ”Richard Wagner” classical music, is the building of the Opera of Vienna (Wiener Staatsoper) that glares bright and lush, at the intersection of Kärntner street (Straße) and ring (Ringstraße). The street “ring” – which like a ring, enclose the old city of Vienna – starts with this building. Number “one” Ringstraße is one of the most important Opera of Vienna and the world.
The construction of the building of the Opera of Vienna, based on the plan of a famous architect from Vienna, which of course was born in Hungary, ”August von Sicardsburg” started in the second half of the nineteenth century
The construction of the building of the Opera of Vienna, based on the plan of a famous architect from Vienna, who in fact was born in Hungary, ”August von Sicardsburg” started in the second half of the nineteenth century. Another architect, ”Eduard van der Nüll” is the interior designer of this beautiful art monument who along with other prominent artists of that era, has left us the most magnificent opera and concert halls of the world. Another artist whose wall and ceiling paintings (Fresco) has transformed the entrance lobby and the balcony of the opera into a unique art work, is the Austrian artist ”Moritz von Schwind”.
The inauguration announcement poster in 1869
”The enchanted Flute” (Die Zauberflöte), the most famous opera of ”Mozart” has been painted by the capable brushes of this artist on the Opera’s balcony. When you enter this Balcony, you would be mesmerized by the enchanting flutes of ”Moritz von Schwind” and turn around in order not to miss anything as if you were hearing the Enchanted Flutes of the genius “Amadeus”.
The Opera of Vienna, was officially inaugurated on 25 May 1869, with the implementation of “Don Giovanni», the immortal opera of “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart”, in presence of Emperor ”Kaiser Franz Joseph” and his wife, “Elizabeth”. Unfortunately, none of the two architects of this art monument were alive when the investiture of the opera took place. Shortly before the opening ceremony, ”Eduard van der Nüll”’s life ended with a tragic suicide, and later, ”August von Sicardsburg” also lost his life to a stroke.
The Opera of Vienna, Exterior facade
Very soon, under the first brilliant directors of this opera, such as ”Franz von Dingelstedt”, ”Johann Herbeck”, ”Franz Jauner” and ”Wilhelm Jahn”, its popularity increased day by day. Nonetheless, one of the first golden period in the management of the Opera of Vienna was when ”Gustav Mahler” was its director. “Mahler” who counted between outstanding composers and leaders during romanticism and the transition to modernity, changed the old way the music and opera were performed. With his experience in the orchestra, visual arts and decoration in the realm of theatre and opera, he created an evolutionary change in Opera performance. During his management, that “Alfred Roller”, Austrian painter, graphic artist and stage designer was invited to work in the Opera of Vienna and contributed a lot its beauty and fame
The building of the Opera destroyed after the bombings in the last months of the World war II
But the dark period of World War II, was very afflictive for the Opera of Vienna also. From 1938 to 1945 that “Nazism» (Nationalsozialismus) searched their power in a destructive war and failed, many members of this Artists place, fled or were prosecuted and killed. Many of the musical works did not survive the Nazis censors and their implementation was eventually banned and finally on March 12, 1945 much of the opera building was destroyed due to the bombings. Perhaps another bitter scene of World War II, besides images of those killed in the battle fields, the bodies of dead men and women and children who were suffocated in gas chambers and long lines of victims of genocide to the crematorium ovens – at least to music lovers – are images of the Opera of Vienna destroyed.
And the Opera of Vienna, Glorious, Today
After the official end of World War II in the eighth in 1945, the same year, on may 24th, the Austrian government consultant in public buildings affairs, Ing. ”Julius Raab” announced the reconstruction of the Opera of Vienna. Only the original exterior facade, the entrance and a small waiting room of the Opera were left intact after the bombings. Ten years after World War II, following the reconstruction, construction of a new hall and being equipped with new technology, on the day of 5 November 1955, performing the opera ”Fidelio” of “Beethoven”, led by Karl Böhm, the Opera of Vienna officially reopened its doors. The event was transmitted to the entire world by Austrian TV, and in fact, a symbol of Austria’s Second Republic was born.
But the dark period of World War II, was very afflictive for the Opera of Vienna also
If you want a tour of the Opera of Vienna, but you do not have the opportunity to travel to Vienna, you may have a look on the Opera of Vienna Panorama website (Wiener Staatsoper).
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