Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg on Otto Nicolai
09.06.2010, 18:30
June 2010 marks the 200th birthday anniversary of Otto Nicolai, founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg, tells us about him on June 9, 2010.
Music is provided for by Küchl-Quartett.
Otto Nicolai, a composer and conductor was living in an apartment in Haus der Musik when he founded the uniquely sounding Vienna Philharmonic orchestra in 1842. In 1841 he had been named director of choir at Kärntnertortheater. Pushed by leading figures of Vienna's music scene, he picked up on Lachner's [ar1] idea and conducted a "Great Concert" in Redoutensaal on March 28, 1842. "All orchestra personnel of the k.k court-opera theatre" were involved in arranging the concert. This "Philharmonic Academy" as it was initially called, is rightly considered the orchestra's hour of birth. It was here that the "Philharmonic Idea," whose principles are still valid today, was first realized. Besides operas and numerous songs, Otto Nicolai also composed sacred and secular choral compositions. "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is, without doubt, his most famous opera. It premiered in Berlin on March 9, 1849.
In Haus der Musik's exhibition area, you can find the founding decree of the Vienna Philharmonic together with various other relevant documents.
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