"What high explosive power the term "free" and its noun "freedom" have, we experience at the beginning of the year 2022 in painful touching variety. Since March 2020, we have experienced as endangered by pandemic-related security measures the degrees of freedom of modern Europe that we have taken so much for granted. We became aware that borders can be closed again and that "new normalities" can force a cultural change. Creativity and labor were classified in system relevance and according to the degree of danger, stages and concert halls remained closed for months. In February of this year, an international war began in Europe. For an entire country, the freedom of self-determination and sovereignty is now at stake, it is a question of its own culture and identity.
The latter condition and expression of freedom. This year's theme of the Mozart:Forum seems more topical than hoped and offers a great opportunity to look across history at freedom and creativity, sovereignty and entrepreneurship. Eavesdropping on a long-gone classic and looking ahead to an uncertain future, audiences may encounter the core values of our culture and our sense of self. The annual program throws a special light on the modernity of the freelance artist Wolfang A. Mozart and his work. A heartfelt thank you to the Mozart:Forum for this exciting bouquet, which once again brings together activities from many different departments of the Mozarteum University. To all the great events, I wish a numerous and, above all, enthusiastic audience."
- Rector Elisabeth Gutjahr on the annual theme of the Mozart:Forum 2022
"In 2022, the Mozart:Forum of the University Mozarteum Salzburg focuses on Mozart's "freelance" activities in Vienna in the 1780s and at the same time wants to build a bridge to the present, to be a reflection of the last two years: Is art systemically relevant? In particular, how did freelance artists fare during the pandemic? Do we as a university adequately prepare our students for freelance work in art and science? Are we as a university actually free?
Vienna in 1781, Josephinian reforms: Toleranz- und Judenpatent grant equal civil rights to members of all confessions, the abolition of serfdom, new pension regulations, a new educational system, the easing of censorship (from 5,000 to 900 books). Mozart entered this radically accelerated, state-ordered Enlightenment with its enormous spirit of optimism in 1781 as an enthusiastic follower of this body of thought. Despite constant efforts to find permanent employment, Mozart was forced to freelance and was highly successful in creating a whole network of activities: Academies, teaching, freelance opera commissions, cooperation with the publishing industry etc. His environment even advised him to this form of existence: "the whole noblesse talks to me I should not let myself be led (before?) anymore". A highlight of the year (on 9. November) will certainly be the original performance of Mozart's Academy Concert of March 23, 1783, in which the University Mozarteum Salzburg will make its entire competence and diversity tangible in a Mozart marathon lasting several hours. Without claiming to be a complete analysis, this program and publication aims to provide food for thought on the topic of "frei.schaffend", to reflect on the concept of freedom in art and the practice of art, which is unfortunately not taken for granted in many places, to offer various approaches, and also to show the diversity of our university in its approach to this."
- Gernoth Sahler, Head Coordinator of the Mozart:Forum 2022
