Il primo teatro d’opera commerciale di Vienna (1728–1748) tra gestione impresariale e direzione cortigiana

Abstract

Vienna’s first commercial opera house (1728–1748) between impresario management and courtly directionIn the first half of the 18th century, the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna was not only a venue for spoken theatre performances, but also a centre for opera. Between 1728 and 1748, around 150 musical dramas, mostly Italian, were performed. In a volume published in 2023 (Das Wiener Kärntnertortheater 1728-1748. Vom städtischen Schauspielhaus zum höfischen Opernbetrieb, hg. von A. Sommer-Mathis und R. Strohm, Wien, Hollitzer), the repertoire of this first commercial opera house in Vienna was reconstructed using surviving libretti and scores. The present contribution is based on this book and focuses on the organisation of the Kärntnertortheater at this time, which was managed alternately by private impresarios and court officials. The two impresarios who took over the management of the theatre in 1728, the singer Francesco Borosini and the dancer Joseph Carl Selliers, were supported by a number of court dignitaries, but had to contend with an exclusive opera privilege, which the singer Francesco Ballerini held until 1734, but which he never made use of. Even after this privilege expired, Borosini and Selliers struggled with various problems, especially financial ones, until Maria Theresa decided in 1741 to entrust Selliers with the organisation of court operas as well, thus eliminating the separation between the administration of the court theatre and the municipal theatre.