And everything is upside down: When Austropop conquers the Theater Museum in Vienna (Lobkowitzplatz 2, 1st district), instruments, seating and even a naked man hang from the ceiling. The new director of the house, Marie-Theres Arnbom, who is also culturally extremely committed in the Salzkammergut, has chosen a topic for her inaugural exhibition that at first glance seems unusual, but which is nevertheless well justified in terms of content: “Austropop – From Mozart to Falco”.
The two driving forces from the exhibition title appear right at the beginning: Arnbom and her team of seven curators understand pop as “Breaking Up the World”. Subversion and social criticism are the hallmarks that draw a link to Mozart, Emanuel Schikaneder or Johann Nestroy. A bright 1960s wallpaper alternates with historical manuscripts as a creative background, in front of which costumes from Mozart performances are shown as well as a Falco figure including a guitar.
The Linz-born tenor Richard Tauber was one of the great pop stars of the 1930s, while Hermann Leopoldi humorously touched society’s wounds in his songs. The cult surrounding Wolfgang Ambros’ hit “Schifoan” is highlighted, as is the adoration of Empress Elisabeth in operettas, films and musicals, as well as the questionable image of Austria between the White Horse Inn and the Sound of Music.
Source: Nachrichten
