The Story of Schönbrunn Theater
The Royal Theater at Schönbrunn (Schlosstheater Schönbrunn), also called the Schönbrunn Music Theater, was built in the mid-18th century. Empress Maria Theresa requested a magnificent, well-equipped theater for palace performances, as earlier shows had been held outdoors in the Schönbrunn Palace park.
The Baroque-style building, designed by Habsburg court architect Nikolaus Pacassi, opened in 1747 after two years of construction. At the time of its opening, the theater was one of the first of its kind in Europe. The theater hall included about 340 seats (today there are about 392 seats).
Maria Theresa was an enthusiastic fan of theater performances and concerts, and she often came to watch the plays. In addition, the children of the House of Habsburg took part in the performances themselves as singers, dancers, or actors. This theater served as the “home theater” of the Habsburg family.
About 20 years after it opened, the famous Habsburg architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg expanded and renovated the theater.
For about 50 years, the theater operated without interruption, hosting fine concerts by famous artists like Mozart and Haydn, as well as opera performances by Christoph Willibald Gluck.
The Theater in the Napoleonic Era and in World War I
In 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte took over the theater and turned it into his command headquarters, temporarily suspending its performances.
After Napoleon departed, the theater resumed hosting performances for the nobles and the Habsburgs. In 1814 and 1815, during the Congress of Vienna, which brought together leaders and envoys from various countries, the theater hosted performances by the Kärntnertortheater, another respected Vienna theater.
In the years before World War I, the theater’s prestige declined, and its activities ceased completely. For a period, it was used only for storing furniture.
The Theater after World War I
After the war, the National Theater (Burgtheater) used the theater during the summer months, but financial difficulties forced it to close again in 1924.
In the 1930s, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna took over the theater for university performances and student rehearsals. The university still uses the theater today, and it remains part of the institution.
If you feel like seeing a theater performance or listening to a great concert for free, you can come to the Schönbrunn Theater and watch student performances. The performances are excellent and of a very high standard, so it’s a great opportunity to experience some Viennese culture without spending money.
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit
As part of the university’s activities, a variety of performances are held in the theater. You can see the list of performances here.
How to get to the Theater?
The theater is located on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace and can be reached easily. The simplest way is to travel there by subway. The green line, U4, goes to the Schönbrunn station. There, you should get off and walk from the train station for about 5-7 minutes.
Alternatively, you can get to the palace using tram lines 10 and 60 or by bus line 10A. You should get off at the Schönbrunn station.
Address: Schloss Schönbrunn, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien
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Interested in reading more about the famous Schönbrunn Palace and its attractions? Read all the latest information in our comprehensive article about the palace.
