In this first mdw Magazine issue of the new year, we’d like to (re)discover Antonio Salieri in light of the 200th anniversary of his death. After all, it was Salieri who laid the cornerstone of today’s mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with his establishment of the Singing School of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in 1817.
We’ve also spoken with intriguing international personalities who recently paid the mdw a visit, uncovering insights into the artistic work of cellist Anmari van der Westhiuzen, guitarist Jennifer Batten, and baritone Thomas Hampson. Further topics include just why practical mediation offerings are so important in the mdw’s teaching of music history as well as the highlights with which Film Academy Vienna’s latest “Werkschau” event drew large numbers of film enthusiasts to multiple cinemas this past November. And starting immediately, our new regular feature “mdwHistory” zeroes in on historical details and biographies relevant to our institution: first up is Erwin Weill, a teacher at what was then the State Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna who was forbidden from pursuing his pedagogical work beginning in March 1938 due to his Jewish origins.
I wish you an informative read!
