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No News. The production of an "animal trilogy" including Camille Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals" is already the second major cooperation between the Mozarteum University and the Marionette Theatre. On the violin: Benjamin Schmid. The idea for this new production with three classics of literature and music had been in the back of the minds of the puppet theatre team around its artistic director Philippe Brunner for a long time. The famous "zoological fantasy" Carnival of the Animals by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns in a poetic new interpretation formed its starting point. Expanded by the two pieces: The Story of Babar the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff and Ferdinand the Bull by Munro Leaf. The story of Babar, who flees to a city and finds pleasure in the life of the people, is very well known in France, yet it is rarely brought to the stage - an added incentive. The two literary children's stories are not interwoven and yet both tell of growing up and gaining experience. In Ferdinand the bull, who doesn't like the fights of his peers and prefers to enjoy the scent of flowers, the message is added that being different is okay. The musical realisation is done in cooperation with students of the Mozarteum University under the direction of Andreas Groethuysen and Benjamin Schmid, who also plays the part of the solo violin. "Each piece is a work of art in itself. It was simply nice to combine these three different pieces musically as well, the rehearsals are a lot of fun," as Philippe Brunner reports. And it is not only meant to be fun for children: These are pieces for adults, families and children. The Carnival of the Animals is not based on a children's story, although Camille Saint-Saëns was considered a humorous French composer who cultivated an unusual and cheerful style of teaching. Play and seriousness were combined and he had his classes rehearse persiflage, among other things. In 1886, on the occasion of a carnival concert, he finally wrote Carnival of the Animals with some jocular musical elements, which was premiered on a small scale on 9 March. However, merely assessing the piece as a parody or caricature - Saint-Saëns not only imitated various animal sounds with instruments in his work, but also parodied his fellow composers - falls short. (Cf. Michael Stegemann, 1986 p. 219ff) "The Carnaval des animaux is not a malicious but an affectionate caricature" (Michael Stegemann, 1986 p. 226). Andreas Groethuysen, who as a professor at the Mozarteum University prepares the studying piano duos for this piece, knows that students love to perform it. "It is a prime example of humour in music," as Groethuysen explains, and yet it is quite demanding to play, not only because in this case it is performed four-handed on one piano. The duos - there are two of them, also to be prepared for failures - need four to six weeks to prepare. In any case, this performance is enriching for the students. They accompany a story and have to react to what happens on stage. It will be exciting to see to what extent the scenic events influence the play. However, it is not only the musicians who are challenged, the puppeteers have also internalised the scores, as Philippe Brunner reports. So the play and the music will influence each other. In addition to the piano duo, students with flute, clarinet, percussion, violoncello and double bass under the direction of Benjamin Schmid (violin) will also be involved in the Carnival of the Animals. The story of Babar, as part of a series of children's books, was written in 1931 and set to music by Francis Poulenc in a version for narrator and piano between 1940 and 1945. At the Marionette Theatre Salzburg, the original version with piano is used. Because, as Brunner points out, it is precisely this version that has a transparency and brilliance that is difficult to achieve with orchestra. Ferdinand the Bull was published as a children's book in 1936. In 1971 it was set to music for solo violin by Alan Ridout. Until now, puppet theatre pieces have only been accompanied by live music in co-productions with the Mozart Week. The live musical accompaniment by artists from the Mozarteum University is therefore a novelty and offers the chance to expand the repertoire. The musical accompaniment to the stories is not insignificant. Music is created to generate emotions and, especially in this case, images. "Every music has its character and its expression, mostly states of mind or emotions. Music therefore lends itself very well to telling stories. There is no other art that moves so deeply," Groethuysen is convinced. The production is special in many ways. It consists of three different plays with three different directing teams. The preparation and realisation time is just under two years. The plays are short, and yet a story needs to be told - not an easy undertaking for the director. The puppet theatre team went above and beyond with more than 30 new puppets, most of which, including their costumes, were made in-house, with numerous set elements, including a large glass house with furniture, props, crochet work and even wool they dyed themselves. Large animals such as elephants and a bull are not everyday work even for the experienced puppet makers and puppeteers (the performers combine both professions) of the puppet theatre. The animals have to be easy to move, which in some cases requires several puppeteers. Most of the figures are moved from a height of two metres on strings - whereby the puppeteers assume an extremely challenging posture. The strings make it impossible to change the figures, which means that a separate puppet had to be made for each costume! Moreover, the special skin given to the animal figures in The Story of Babar involved many "crochet evenings", as Susanne Tiefenbacher, Managing Director of the Salzburg Marionette Theatre, recalls with a smile. Anyone who thinks that figures today come from 3-D printers and that much can be done with plastic is mistaken. The core of the figures is made of wood, to which are added foams, textiles and wool. The trades involved in this production are carpentry, tailoring, costume design, locksmithery, sculpture, technology for lighting and sound, among others. The performance team, including live music and the narrator, comprises a total of 23 people. However, all these challenges are rewarded. The production will be included in the standard repertoire of the Salzburg Marionette Theatre and can hopefully inspire young and old for many years to come! About the production: BABAR: Director: Lisa Stumpfögger; Stage design and figurines: Herbert Kapplmüller; figure construction: Max Kiener-Laubenbacher, Vladimir Fediakov; narrator: Hanna Schygulla FERDINAND: Director: Philippe Brunner; Figurine and puppet construction: Vladimir Fediakov; Illustrations: Clemens Birsak; Narrator: Matthias Bundschuh  KARNEVAL DER TIERE: Director and stage design: Matthias Bundschuh; Figurines and puppet construction: Barbara and Günter Weinhold (First published in the Uni-Nachrichten / Salzburger Nachrichten on 10 June 2023) Tickets (Opens in new tab) Skip slider The story of Babar, the little elephant Video Special 15.6.2023 The story of Babar, the little elephant  Ferdinand the Bull Video Special 15.6.2023 Ferdinand the Bull  Carnival of the Animals Video Special 15.6.2023 Carnival of the Animals  Jump to slider start © Bernhard Müller Performance 23.8.2023 Carnival of the Animals: An Animal Trilogy In a varied hour, students tell under the direction of Andreas Groethuysen and Benjamin Schmid, who also plays the part of the solo violin, three musical animal stories in cooperation with the Salzburg Marionette Theater. More More News 12 prize winners at the Mozarteum International Summer Academy 12.8.2025 12 prize winners at the Mozarteum International Summer Academy  Under the artistic direction of Hannfried Lucke, four intensive weeks came to an end on Saturday, featuring 57 masterclasses in 13 subjects, Young Excellence classes and numerous additional offerings on health and professional qualification for musicians. A total of 12 prize winners were honoured for their outstanding achievements. Press release Paths to self-employment - Franziska Strohmayr 6.8.2025 Paths to self-employment - Franziska Strohmayr  The versatile and renowned violinist, project manager and lecturer Franziska Strohmayr grew up in Augsburg and came to Salzburg to study, where she still lives today after graduating from the Mozarteum University under Prof. Martin Mumelter and Prof. Wolfgang Gratzer and from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under Prof. Jacqueline Ross. Alumnae & Alumni Stories Awards & achievements (german only) 1.8.2025 Awards & achievements (german only)  Awards & Successes In memoriam Reinhart von Gutzeit 14.7.2025 In memoriam Reinhart von Gutzeit  It is with great sorrow that the Mozarteum University announces the passing of its former rector, Univ.-Prof. Reinhart von Gutzeit, who died on 11th July 2025 in Lucerne after a long illness, surrounded by his family. In memoriam

In a varied hour, students tell under the direction of Andreas Groethuysen and Benjamin Schmid, who also plays the part of the solo violin, three musical animal stories in cooperation with the Salzburg Marionette Theater.

Christopher Lindinger is an innovation researcher, computer scientist and cultural manager. He co-founded the Futurelab at Ars Electronica in Linz and was co-director of the Media Lab until he was appointed vice rector at JKU Linz in 2019. On October 1, he took up the first professorship for art and digitality at the Mozarteum University.

Muriel Razavi and Sào Soulez Larivière took up their viola professorships at the University Mozarteum Salzburg on October 1. Both have received numerous awards, are active worldwide as soloists and chamber musicians, and invest a great deal in the future of classical music.

News … Home News Intimate Music - Great Sound: Institute for Chamber Music & Camerata Salzburg Intimate Music - Big Sound: Continuation of Collaboration 15.11.2022 News © Christian Schneider Continuation of the cooperation between the Camerata Salzburg and the Institute for Chamber Music of the Mozarteum University, which began in March 2022: former or current concertmasters of the Camerata will take over the artistic direction. The underlying idea of performing string quartet literature in a larger ensemble without losing the intimate music-making of a string quartet also characterizes the program of this concert project. The Mozarteum University Chamber Orchestra interprets string quartet literature. The upcoming concert is conducted by Gregory Ahss, who holds the concertmaster position together with Giovanni Guzzo. The Chamber Orchestra of the Mozarteum University is composed of master and postgraduate students. Upcoming concert 27.11.2022 11:00 am Solitär Intimate music - Great sound (2)  The chamber orchestra interprets string quartet literature Concert · Free entry (Opens in new tab)

Andreas Scholl is one of the best and most renowned countertenors in the world. A conversation about his endowed professorship at the University Mozarteum Salzburg, his musical roots and the very special moments of his career.

News … Home News "Ian Stoutzker Prize in Memory Of Yehudi Menuhin" to Thomas Reif & David Eggert "Ian Stoutzker Prize in Memory Of Yehudi Menuhin" to Thomas Reif & David Eggert 27.01.2020 Press release Sandra Steindl In memory of violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin, the University Mozarteum Salzburg invites you to a special event on January 27, 2012 - the awarding of the "Ian Stoutzker Prize in Memory of Yehudi Menuhin" to violinist Thomas Reif (class Harald Herzl) and cellist David Eggert (class Clemens Hagen). The two "String Players of the Year" from the Mozarteum University will be honored at the event and will perform works from their repertoire (see above). The sponsor of the highly endowed award is the successful British businessman and philanthropist Ian Stoutzker, who was a friend of Yehudi Menuhin and founded the organization LIVE MUSIC NOW together with him in 1977. David Eggert is a Canadian cellist who combines an innovative approach to traditional repertoire with a determined commitment to contemporary musical creations. Solo performances in Europe and North America identify the Salzburg native as an emerging talent. David Eggert won among others the 1st prize and five special prizes at the International Cello Competition "Antonio Janigro" in Zagreb. At the  Naumburg Cello Competition in New York he was awarded an honorary prize. Thomas Reif, violinist from Rosenheim, has been a regular participant in master classes and a young student at the Mozarteum University since 2004, initially with Bruno Steinschaden and from 2005 with Harald Herzl. In 2006 he was accepted by the Leopold Mozart Institute for the Promotion of High Talent. Thomas Reif has already received several prizes at music competitions, including 1st prize at the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach, 1st prize at the Mozarteum's Ruggiero Ricci Competition and 2nd prize at the European Competition for Young Violin Students in Gorizia.

The Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize of the Mozarteum University was offered for the first time in 2019 and annually honors a student personality who knows how to convince with musical creative power, poetry and a unique charisma. The sponsor of the highly endowed award (20,000 euros) is the successful British businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Stoutzker, who founded the organization Live Music Now together with Yehudi Menuhin in 1977.

39 singers from 15 countries competed for the International Mozart Competition of the Universtiät Mozarteum in the vocal category from February 10 to 16, 2023. A program highlight was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the IGNM, which was celebrated in 2022. The final took place on February 16, 2023 in the Solitär.

The Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize, launched at the Mozarteum University in 2019, has produced six winners! In the spirit of interdisciplinarity and inclusion, the selection process was open to all students of the Mozarteum University for the first time. The outstanding winner of the evening is the soprano Veronika Loy.