Mozarteum: Elaborate refurbishment in progress
Culture
There is currently a major construction site in the Mozarteum in the city of Salzburg. Work has been going on there for a good year now on a new central wing including a break foyer. And the historical furnishings in the large concert hall were also completely torn out and are to be renewed by the summer.
The last renovation was around 40 years ago. Since then, the Great Hall has gotten old, especially technically. Now it is to be optically restored to its original condition from 1914 and at the same time technically brought to the year 2022. Air conditioning, electricity, concert hall technology and fire protection are being renewed, says Mozarteum Managing Director Rainer Heneis.
“The greatest challenges and work are exactly the things that you actually do behind the scenes, especially in fire protection: we are getting a new high-pressure fog system in the roof, for example. And we have a whole range of other additional measures – door openings, fire protection doors, escape route options. These are all things that require a completely different standard than 40 years ago,” explains Heneis.
Refurbishment for 14 million euros
In addition, the seating WILL BE renewed and the number of seats reduced in order to be able to offer the audience more legroom. The total cost of the project, including the foyer during the break, is more than 14 million euros, with a minimum of one third each from the Mozarteum Foundation itself, public funding and a private sponsor.
The renovation work will last in several stages until 2024. The first section WILL be completed in early July, then WILL continue to be written after the festival.