In 1856 an association was founded with the aim to set up a music school dedicated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart keeping his musical heritage alive. This plan was implemented in the villa of the former ministry of interior, Josef von Lasser, in the Schwarzstraße. Between 1910 and 1914 the place was reconstructed according to plans by Richard Berndl. In 1917 the board of governors of the International Mozarteum Foundation elected Bernhard Paumgartner as director of what was then a conservatory. Later on it became an academy and since the 1970ies the Mozarteum Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Financial problems of the International Mozarteum Foundation were offset by nationalizing the teaching part of the foundation’s work in 1922 with the result that nowadays two completely seperate corporate bodies exist. In 2006 the Mozarteum University moved into its own building on the Mirabellplatz.

Since 1921 the International Mozarteum Foundation has cooperated closely with the Salzburg Festival. The Great Hall ist one of the most important venues of concert series as it is excellent for performance of chamber music.

Address

International Mozarteum Foundation / Great Hall
Schwarzstraße 26, 5020 Salzburg