Musicologica Olomucensia

In years 1851 and 1853, important talks took place in Olomouc between the Austrian emperor and the Russian tsar, and there were major military manoeuvres in the environs of Olomouc. The theatre in Olomouc was the scene of social activities accompanying these two events. The theatre was visited for guest performances by members of the Viennese Hofoper, for instance conductor Heinrich Proch, and solists Mathilda Wildauer, Terese Schwarz, Mathilda Marlow, Franz Steger, Josef Staudigl, Josef Erl, Karl Just. In 1851 the Viennese performers gave one opera performance (Don Pasquale by Donizetti) and two musical evenings. There were sung extracts from the operas Barber of Sevilla (Rossini), Fra Diavolo (Auber), The Bohemian Girl (Balfe), Ernani and Macbeth (Verdi). In 1853 four opera performances were prepared: Martha, Alessandro Stradella (Flotow), Linda of Chamounix (Donizetti) and Mozart´s Wedding of Figaro. The latter was not stages in the end. The Hofoper sent reinforcements to Olomouc for the opera choir and orchestra, costumes and sets. Both these cycles were of a high standard and socially prestigious. It was quite a unique event in the history of German opera in Olomouc. Unfortunately, it was never repeated.