Mozart in Vienna

St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna’s most important religious building, was the site of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Constanze Weber’s wedding in 1782, the baptism of his children and the composer’s own funeral ceremony in December 1791. Mozart’s name can be found in the cathedral’s death book.

The Cathedral was built on the ruins of the 1147 CE Romanesque church dedicated to St. Stephen, of which only the Giants’ Gate and the Pagan Towers remain.

At the apex of the Cathedral, a large 137-metre-high Gothic tower dominates the entire city centre.

The grandeur of the Cathedral leads the visitor to discover many corners of historical significance, such as the Tile Roof, a set of 250.000 tiles restored due to damages during the events of World War II; the Singers’ Gate on the right side of the building, formerly forbidden to be used by women; the Punmerin Bell built from the cannons of the retreating Turkish troops in 1683, later destroyed in a fire and rebuilt again at the behest of the Viennese; the admiration of the Pilgram Pulpit, a carved wooden Gothic pulpit; the 18th-century Catacombs and the image of Christ in the Tirna Chapel, on which legend has it that he has a growing human beard.

For several years, Mozart composed in Vienna and performed his outstanding and unique musical compositions until his illness struck after the first performance of “The Magic Flute” in Vienna’s Freihaustheater. Before his death, Mozart applied for the post of music director. Wolfgang thus died in Vienna on 5 December 1791.

Nevertheless, Mozart is revived in the Cathedral every year on All Saints’ Day with a performance by the orchestra and choir of St. Stephen’s Cathedral Music of one of his most moving works, depicting man facing death with his fear, anger despair, sadness, hope and consolation.

Entering the cathedral is a unique experience. Its shapes and solemn aura are capable of taking visitors back in time, imagining a young Mozart in love with his beautiful Constanze.